Human protein tyrosine phosphatase polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel human PTPase polypeptides and isolated nucleic acids containing the coding regions of the genes encoding such polypeptides. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing human PTPase polypeptides. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating disorders related to these novel human PtPase polypeptides.

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims benefit under35 U.S.C. §120 of copending PCT International Application Serial No.PCT/US01/01563, filed Jan. 17, 2001 (in English), which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety, which claims benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/176,306,filed Jan. 18, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel human protein tyrosinephosphatase (PTPase) proteins. More specifically, isolated nucleic acidmolecules are provided encoding novel PTPase polypeptides. Novel PTPasepolypeptides and antibodies that bind to these polypeptides areprovided. Also provided are vectors, host cells, and recombinant andsynthetic methods for producing human FTPase polynucleotides and/orpolypeptides. The invention further relates to diagnostic andtherapeutic methods useful for diagnosing, treating, preventing and/orprognosing disorders related to these novel PTPase polypeptides. Theinvention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonistsand antagonists of polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention.The present invention further relates to methods and/or compositions forinhibiting the production and function of the polypeptides of thepresent invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide-range of cellular activities are achieved through the opposingactions of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of target proteins,mediated by kinases and phosphatases, respectively. Such cellularactivities include cell adhesion, cellular signaling, cellularproliferation, and cellular differentiation.

Typically, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPases) contain at least oneconserved catalytic PTPase domain of approximately 240 amino acids,characterized by the following signature: [I/V]HCxAGxxR[S/T]G. Duringthe phosphatase catalytic activity, the phosphate moiety of thesubstrate undergoes nucleophilic attack from the cysteinyl residue,resulting in the removal of a phosphate group attached to a tyrosineresidue (Neel, B. G., and N. K. Tonks, Curr. Opin. Cell Biol., 9:193-204(1997)).

This large and diverse family of proteins can be sub-divided into theintracellular PTPases and the transmembrane PTPases. The intracellularPTPases, such as hematopoietic cell protein (HCP) tyrosine phosphatase(or SHP), contain one PTPase domain flanked by regulatory sequencesinvolved in protein-protein interactions, cellular localization, and/orenzyme activity. The transmembrane PTPases, such as CD45, contain atransmembrane domain followed by one or more intracellular PTPasedomains. It is thought that the transmembrane PTPases are involved intransducing signals across the plasma membrane (M. Streuli, Curr. Opin.Cell Biol., 8:182-88 (1996)).

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases have been found to be involved in a widerange of biological activities. Schmidt et al. found a murine PTPaseexpressed by osteoclasts that, upon inhibition by Alendronate (ALN),inhibited in vitro osteoclast formation and bone resorption (Schmidt,A., et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci USA, 93:3068-73 (1996)). This PTPasecould be a valuable target for inhibitors that prevent bone resorptionby osteoclasts.

It has further been found that some Receptor Protein TyrosinePhosphatases (RPTPs) of Drosophila have profound effects on the growthand guidance of developing nervous systems. Disruption of the RPTPDPTP69D in Drosophila results in pupal lethality. In mutant embryos,motor neuron growth cones are defective in their ability to recognizetarget muscle groups, or to conversly follow pathways that avoid thesetargets. Likewise, DLAR mutations leading to the loss of function resultin nerve development that is unable to migrate to the appropriate muscletarget and innervate it (Neel, B. G., and N. K. Tonks, Curr. Opin. CellBiol, 9:193-204 (1997)).

Further, it has been found that the transmembrane PTPase CD45 isrequired for T-cell receptor signaling. B and T-cells deficient for CD45demonstrate that CD45 is necessary for T and B lymphocyte activationthrough their antigen receptors. Knock-out mice that do not express thelarger CD45 isoforms lack thymocyte maturation, and have functionallyimpaired T cells, among other disorders (M. Streuli, Curr. Opin. CellBiol, 8:182-88 (1996)).

Thus there exists a clear need for identifying and exploiting novelProtein Tyrosine Phosphatase family members. Although structurallyrelated, such proteins may possess diverse and multifaceted functions ina variety of cell and tissue types. The purified Protein TyrosinePhosphatase polypeptides of the invention are useful as research toolsuseful for the identification, characterization and purification ofadditional molecules involved in cell signaling, and regulation thereof.Furthermore, the identification of new Protein Tyrosine Phosphatasespermits the development of a range of derivatives, agonists andantagonists at the nucleic acid and protein levels which in turn haveapplications in the treatment and diagnosis of a wide-range ofconditions such as cellular signaling, neurite outgrowth, cell adhesion,and tissue-healing disorders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes isolated nucleic acid moleculescomprising, or alternatively, consisting of a polynucleotide sequencedisclosed in the sequence listing and/or contained in a human cDNAplasmid described in Table 1 and deposited with the American TypeCulture Collection (ATCC). Fragments, variants, and derivatives of thesenucleic acid molecules are also encompassed by the invention. Thepresent invention also includes isolated nucleic acid moleculescomprising, or alternatively, consisting of, a polynucleotide encodingPTPase polypeptides. The present invention further includes PTPasepolypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides. Further provided for areamino acid sequences comprising, or alternatively, consisting of, PTPasepolypeptides as disclosed in the sequence listing and/or encoded by thehuman cDNA plasmids described in Table 1 and deposited with the ATCC.Antibodies that bind these polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention. Polypeptide fragments, variants, and derivatives of theseamino acid sequences are also encompassed by the invention, as arepolynucleotides encoding these polypeptides and antibodies that bindthese polypeptides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Tables

Table 1 summarizes ATCC Deposits, Deposit dates, and ATCC designationnumbers of deposits made with the ATCC in connection with the presentapplication. Table 1 further summarizes the information pertaining toeach “Gene No.” described below, including cDNA clone identifier, thetype of vector contained in the cDNA clone identifier, the nucleotidesequence identifier number, nucleotides contained in the disclosedsequence, the location of the 5′ nucleotide of the start codon of thedisclosed sequence, the amino acid sequence identifier number, and thelast amino acid of the ORF encoded by the disclosed sequence.

Table 2 indicates public ESTs, of which at least one, two, three, four,five, ten, or more of any one or more of these public EST sequences areoptionally excluded from certain embodiments of the invention.

Table 3 summarizes the expression profile of polynucleotidescorresponding to the clones disclosed in Table 1. The first columnprovides a unique clone identifier, “cDNA Plasmid:V”, for a cDNA clonerelated to each contig sequence disclosed in Table 1. Column 2, “LibraryCode” shows the expression profile of tissue and/or cell line librarieswhich express the polynucleotides of the invention. Each Library Code incolumn 2 represents a tissue/cell source identifier code correspondingto the Library Code and Library description provided in Table 4.Expression of these polynucleotides was not observed in the othertissues and/or cell libraries tested. One of skill in the art couldroutinely use this information to identify tissues which show apredominant expression pattern of the corresponding polynucleotide ofthe invention or to identify polynucleotides which show predominantand/or specific tissue expression.

Table 4, column 1, provides the Library Code disclosed in Table 3,column 2. Column 2 provides a description of the tissue or cell sourcefrom which the corresponding library was derived. Library codescorresponding to diseased tissues are indicated in column 3 with theword “disease”. The use of the word “disease” in column 3 isnon-limiting. The tissue source of the library may be specific (e.g., aneoplasm), or may be disease-associated (e.g., a tissue sample from anormal portion of a diseased organ). Furthermore, libraries lacking the“disease” designation may still be derived from sources directly orindirectly involved in a disease state or disorder, and therefore mayhave a further utility in that disease state or disorder.

Definitions

The following definitions are provided to facilitate understanding ofcertain terms used throughout this specification.

In the present invention, “isolated” refers to material removed from itsoriginal environment (e.g., the natural environment if it is naturallyoccurring), and thus is altered “by the hand of man” from its naturalstate. For example, an isolated polynucleotide could be part of a vectoror a composition of matter, or could be contained within a cell, andstill be “isolated” because that vector, composition of matter, orparticular cell is not the original environment of the polynucleotide.The term “isolated” does not refer to genomic or cDNA libraries, wholecell total or mRNA preparations, genomic DNA preparations (includingthose separated by electrophoresis and transferred onto blots), shearedwhole cell genomic DNA preparations or other compositions where the artdemonstrates no distinguishing features of the polynucleotide/sequencesof the present invention.

As used herein, a “polynucleotide” refers to a molecule having a nucleicacid sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X (as described in column 5 ofTable 1), or cDNA plasmid:V (as described in column 2 of Table 1 andcontained within a pool of plasmids deposited with the ATCC in ATCCDeposit No:Z). For example, the polynucleotide can contain thenucleotide sequence of the full length cDNA sequence, including the 5′and 3′ untranslated sequences, the coding region, with or without anatural or artificial signal sequence, the protein coding region, aswell as fragments, epitopes, domains, and variants of the nucleic acidsequence. Moreover, as used herein, a “polypeptide” refers to a moleculehaving an amino acid sequence encoded by a polynucleotide of theinvention as broadly defined (obviously excluding poly-Phenylalanine orpoly-Lysine peptide sequences which result from translation of a polyAtail of a sequence corresponding to a cDNA).

In the present invention, a representative plasmid containing thesequence of SEQ ID NO:X was deposited with the American Type CultureCollection (“ATCC”) and/or described in Table 1. As shown in Table 1,each plasmid is identified by a cDNA Plasmid Identifier and the ATCCDeposit Number (ATCC Deposit No:Z). Plasmids that were pooled anddeposited as a single deposit have the same ATCC Deposit Number. TheATCC is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209,USA. The ATCC deposit was made pursuant to the terms of the BudapestTreaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganismsfor purposes of patent procedure.

A “polynucleotide” of the present invention also includes thosepolynucleotides capable of hybridizing, under stringent hybridizationconditions, to sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X, or the complementthereof (e.g., the complement of any one, two, three, four, or more ofthe polynucleotide fragments described herein) and/or sequencescontained in cDNA plasmid:V (e.g., the complement of any one, two,three, four, or more of the polynucleotide fragments described herein).“Stringent hybridization conditions” refers to an overnight incubationat 42 degree C in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mnMNaCl, 75 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6),5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 μg/ml denatured,sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC atabout 65 degree C.

Also included within “polynucleotides” of the present invention arenucleic acid molecules that hybridize to the polynucleotides of thepresent invention at lower stringency hybridization conditions. Changesin the stringency of hybridization and signal detection are primarilyaccomplished through the manipulation of formamide concentration (lowerpercentages of formamide result in lowered stringency); salt conditions,or temperature. For example, lower stringency conditions include anovernight incubation at 37 degree C. in a solution comprising 6×SSPE(20×SSPE=3M NaCl; 0.2M NaH₂PO₄; 0.02M EDTA, pH 7.4), 0.5% SDS, 30%formamide, 100 μg/ml salmon sperm blocking DNA; followed by washes at 50degree C. with 1×SSPE, 0.1% SDS. In addition, to achieve even lowerstringency, washes performed following stringent hybridization can bedone at higher salt concentrations (e.g. 5×SSC).

Note that variations in the above conditions may be accomplished throughthe inclusion and/or substitution of alternate blocking reagents used tosuppress background in hybridization experiments. Typical blockingreagents include Denhardt's reagent, BLOTTO, heparin, denatured salmonsperm DNA, and commercially available proprietary formulations. Theinclusion of specific blocking reagents may require modification of thehybridization conditions described above, due to problems withcompatibility.

Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to polyA+ sequences(such as any 3′ terminal polyA+ tract of a cDNA shown in the sequencelisting), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) residues, would notbe included in the definition of “polynucleotide,” since such apolynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing apoly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically anydouble-stranded cDNA clone generated using oligo dT as a primer).

The polynucleotides of the present invention can be composed of anypolyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may be unmodifiedRNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. For example, polynucleotides can becomposed of single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture ofsingle- and double-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA,and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybridmolecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, moretypically, double-stranded or a mixture of single- and double-strandedregions. In addition, the polynucleotide can be composed oftriple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. Apolynucleotide may also contain one or more modified bases or DNA or RNAbackbones modified for stability or for other reasons. “Modified” basesinclude, for example, tritylated bases and unusual bases such asinosine. A variety of modifications can be made to DNA and RNA; thus,“polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically, or metabolicallymodified forms.

In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention are atleast 15, at least 30, at least 50, at least 100, at least 125, at least500, or at least 1000 continuous nucleotides but are less than or equalto 300 kb, 200 kb, 100 kb, 50 kb, 15 kb, 10 kb, 7.5kb, 5 kb, 2.5 kb, 2.0kb, or 1 kb, in length. In a further embodiment, polynucleotides of theinvention comprise a portion of the coding sequences, as disclosedherein, but do not comprise all or a portion of any intron. In anotherembodiment, the polynucleotides comprising coding sequences do notcontain coding sequences of a genomic flanking gene (i.e., 5′ or 3′ tothe gene of interest in the genome). In other embodiments, thepolynucleotides of the invention do not contain the coding sequence ofmore than 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1genomic flanking gene(s).

“SEQ ID NO:X” refers to a polynucleotide sequence described in column 5of Table 1, while “SEQ ID NO:Y” refers to a polypeptide sequencedescribed in column 10 of Table 1. SEQ ID NO:X is identified by aninteger specified in column 6 of Table 1. The polypeptide sequence SEQID NO:Y is a translated open reading frame (ORF) encoded bypolynucleotide SEQ ID NO:X. The polynucleotide sequences are shown inthe sequence listing immediately followed by all of the polypeptidesequences. Thus, a polypeptide sequence corresponding to polynucleotidesequence SEQ ID NO:2 is the first polypeptide sequence shown in thesequence listing. The second polypeptide sequence corresponds to thepolynucleotide sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:3, and so on.

The polypeptides of the present invention can be composed of amino acidsjoined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds, i.e.,peptide isosteres, and may contain amino acids other than the 20gene-encoded amino acids. The polypeptides may be modified by eithernatural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemicalmodification techniques which are well known in the art. Suchmodifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailedmonographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature.Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptidebackbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini.It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be presentin the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide.Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications.Polypeptides may be branched, for example, as a result ofubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching.Cyclic, branched, and branched cyclic polypeptides may result fromposttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods.Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation,amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a hememoiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative,covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachmentof phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bondformation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formationof cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation,gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation,iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, pegylation,proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization,selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acidsto proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, forinstance, PROTEINS—STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E.Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); POSTTRANSLATIONALCOVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press,New York, pgs. 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al., Meth Enzymol 182:626-646(1990); Rattan et al., Ann NY Acad Sci 663:48-62 (1992)).

The polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitablemanner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurringpolypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, syntheticallyproduced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination ofthese methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understoodin the art.

The polypeptides may be in the form of the secreted protein, includingthe mature form, or may be a part of a larger protein, such as a fusionprotein (see below). It is often advantageous to include an additionalamino acid sequence which contains secretory or leader sequences,pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification, such as multiplehistidine residues, or an additional sequence for stability duringrecombinant production.

The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably provided in anisolated form, and preferably are substantially purified. Arecombinantly produced version of a polypeptide, including the secretedpolypeptide, can be substantially purified using techniques describedherein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, by theone-step method described in Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31-40 (1988).Polypeptides of the invention also can be purified from natural,synthetic or recombinant sources using techniques described herein orotherwise known in the art, such as, for example, antibodies of theinvention raised against the polypeptides of the present invention inmethods which are well known in the art.

By a polypeptide demonstrating a “functional activity” is meant, apolypeptide capable of displaying one or more known functionalactivities associated with a full-length (complete) protein of theinvention. Such functional activities include, but are not limited to,biological activity, antigenicity [ability to bind (or compete with apolypeptide for binding) to an anti-polypeptide antibody],immunogenicity (ability to generate antibody which binds to a specificpolypeptide of the invention), ability to form multimers withpolypeptides of the invention, and ability to bind to a receptor orligand for a polypeptide.

“A polypeptide having functional activity” refers to polypeptidesexhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical to, anactivity of a polypeptide of the present invention, including matureforms, as measured in a particular assay, such as, for example, abiological assay, with or without dose dependency. In the case wheredose dependency does exist, it need not be identical to that of thepolypeptide, but rather substantially similar to the dose-dependence ina given activity as compared to the polypeptide of the present invention(i.e., the candidate polypeptide will exhibit greater activity or notmore than about 25-fold less and, preferably, not more than abouttenfold less activity, and most preferably, not more than aboutthree-fold less activity relative to the polypeptide of the presentinvention).

The functional activity of the polypeptides, and fragments, variantsderivatives, and analogs thereof, can be assayed by various methods.

For example, in one embodiment where one is assaying for the ability tobind or compete with full-length polypeptide of the present inventionfor binding to an antibody to the full length polypeptide, variousimmunoassays known in the art can be used, including but not limited to,competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such asradioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich”immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitationreactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidalgold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots,precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutinationassays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays,immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresisassays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected bydetecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, theprimary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondaryantibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment,the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art fordetecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of thepresent invention.

In another embodiment, where a ligand is identified, or the ability of apolypeptide fragment, variant or derivative of the invention tomultimerize is being evaluated, binding can be assayed, e.g., by meanswell-known in the art, such as, for example, reducing and non-reducinggel chromatography, protein affinity chromatography, and affinityblotting. See generally, Phizicky, E., et al., Microbiol. Rev. 59:94-123(1995). In another embodiment, physiological correlates polypeptide ofthe present invention binding to its substrates (signal transduction)can be assayed.

In addition, assays described herein (see Examples) and otherwise knownin the art may routinely be applied to measure the ability ofpolypeptides of the present invention and fragments, variantsderivatives and analogs thereof to elicit polypeptide related biologicalactivity (either in vitro or in vivo). Other methods will be known tothe skilled artisan and are within the scope of the invention.

Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 1

Translation products corresponding to this gene share sequence homologywith the protein tyrosine phosphatase TD14 from Rattus norwegicus (SeeGenbank Accession AAC62959), which was isolated from neonatal ratcardiomyocyte tissue and is thought to play a role in regulatingHa-ras-dependent cell growth. Furthermore, translation productscorresponding to this gene appear to be a novel splice-variant of HumanALP, which is a novel tyrosine phosphatase expressed in tissues involvedin the neural system (See International Publication No. WO 98/49317).

Preferred polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternativelyconsist of, the novel region of splice variance, included in thefollowing amino acid sequence: ISQKVRKVPWKLLGEPQPWDSLSSLTLSSQNHLP (SEQID NO: 7). Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention, as are antibodies that bind one or more ofthese polypeptides. Moreover, fragments and variants of thesepolypeptides (e.g., fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to thesepolypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide whichhybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encodingthese polypeptides, or the complement thereof) are encompassed by theinvention. Antibodies that bind these fragments and variants of theinvention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these fragments and variants are also encompassed by theinvention.

Also included in this invention as preferred embodiments are thetyrosine phosphatase active site domains, which were identified usingthe ProSite analysis tool (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics). To detectthis tyrosine phosphatase active site domain, the following concensussequence was developed: [LIVMF]HC.{2}G.{3}[STC][STAGP].[LIVMFY]. Furtherpreferred polypeptides of the invention comprises the following aminoacid sequences: VHCSSGVGRTGAF (SEQ ID NO: 6). Polynucleotides encodingthese polypeptides are also provided. Further preferred are polypeptidescomprising the tyrosine phosphatase active site domain of SEQ ID NO: 6,and at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, or 75 additional contiguousamino acid residues of SEQ ID NO: 4. The additional contiguous aminoacid residues may be N-terminal or C-terminal to the tyrosinephosphatase active site domain. Alternatively, the additional contiguousamino acid residues may be both N-terminal and C-terminal to thetyrosine phosphatase active site domain, wherein the total N- andC-terminal contiguous amino acid residues equal the specified number.

Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one, two, three, four, five, or more of theimmunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ D NO: 4 as residues: Pro-13 to Ser-22,Val-38 to Glu46, Ser-64 to Gly-78, Glu-91 to Gln-96, Arg-103 to Glu-118,Glu-138 to Arg-150, Ser-159 to Gln-165, Ser-179 to Tyr-184, Arg-265 toHis-270, Arg-280 to Lys-285, Leu-320 to Leu-325, Arg-368 to Lys-374,Ser443 to Ser451, Pro-520 to Pro-532, Pro-535 to Ser-542, Ser-560 toLys-569, Arg-582 to Asp589. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptidesare also encompassed by the invention, as are antibodies that bind oneor more of these polypeptides. Moreover, fragments and variants of thesepolypeptides (e.g., fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to thesepolypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide whichhybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encodingthese polypeptides, or the complement thereof) are encompassed by theinvention. Antibodies that bind these fragments and variants of theinvention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these fragments and variants are also encompassed by theinvention.

This gene is expressed in neural tissues, such as adult brain tissue andfrontal cortex tissue. This gene is expressed to a lesser extent intestes and prostate tissues, as well as in various vascular tissues.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, includingantibodies, are useful as reagents for differential identification ofthe tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and fordiagnosis of diseases and conditions which include but are not limitedto: diseases and/or disorders of neural systems (central andperipheral), as well as of reproductive and vascular systems. Similarly,polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful inproviding immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the abovetissues or cells, particularly of the neural (central and peripheral),reproductive and vascular systems, expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, vascular, reproductive,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, serum,plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue orsample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in neural, reproductive, and vascular tissues,and the homology to several tyrosine phosphatase proteins, indicatesthat polynucleotides, translation products and antibodies correspondingto this gene are useful for the diagnosis, detection and/or treatment ofdiseases and/or disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system,the reproductive system, and of vascular tissues.

The tissue distribution in neural tissues, and the homology to a splicevariant of the translation product of this gene which is also expressedin neural tissues, strongly indicates that polynucleotides, translationproducts and antibodies corresponding to this gene are useful for thediagnosis, detection and/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders ofthe central and peripheral nervous system. Such diseases and/ordisorders include, but are not limited to those described herein underthe heading “Neural Activity and Neurological Disease”, includingAlzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, TouretteSyndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsivedisorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism,and altered behaviors (e.g., disorders in feeding, sleep patterns,balance, and perception). In addition, the gene or translation productsof the gene may also play a role in the treatment and/or detection ofdevelopmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, orsexually-linked disorders.

Additionally, the tissue distributions in reproductive and vasculartissues indicates that polynucleotides, translation products andantibodies corresponding to this gene are useful for the treatmentand/or diagnosis of conditions concerning proper testicular function(e.g., endocrine function, sperm maturation and/or as described hereinunder the heading “Reproductive System Disorders”), as well as cancer.Therefore, this gene product is useful in the treatment of maleinfertility and/or impotence. Translation products corresponding to thisgene are also useful in assays designed to identify binding agents, assuch agents (antagonists) are useful as male contraceptive agents.Similarly, translation products corresponding to this gene are believedto be useful in the treatment and/or diagnosis of testicular cancerand/or cancers described herein under “Hyperproliferative Disorders”.The testes are also a site of active gene expression of transcripts thatmay be expressed, particularly at low levels, in other tissues of thebody. Therefore, translation products of this gene may be expressed inother specific tissues or organs where it may play related functionalroles in other processes, such as hematopoiesis, inflammation, boneformation, and kidney function, to name a few possible targetindications.

Furthermore, the tissue distribution in vascular tissues indicates thatpolynucleotides, translation products and antibodies corresponding tothis gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of conditionsand pathologies of the cardiovascular system, such as heart disease,restenosis, atherosclerosis, stoke, angina, thrombosis, wound healing,and/or as described herein under “Cardiovascular Disorders”.

Translation products of this gene, as well as antibodies directedagainst translation products of this gene, may show utility as tumormarkers and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 2

Translation products corresponding to this gene share sequence homologywith a protein-tyrosine phophatase found to be expressed in umbilicalvein endothelial cells (See Genbank Accession No. AAA36530). It isthought that the referenced protein-tyrosine phosphatase functions incell signaling activities in cytoskeletal elements. Furthermore,translation products corresponding to this gene also share sequencehomology with the mouse ehm2 protein (see GenBank Accession No.BAA96079), a member of the NF2/ERM/4.1 gene superfamily which ispreferentially expressed in high metastatic melanoma cells. Based uponthe homology, it is anticipated that these proteins will share at leastsome biological activities.

Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one, two, three, four, five, or more of theimmunogenic epitopes shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 as residues: Lys-14 toThr-28, Trp98 to Ala-107, Arg-131 to Tyr-138, Asp-181 to Glu-189,Arg-219 to Asp-230, Phe-238 to Glu-245, Thr-249 to Ala-278, Ser-289 toTyr-298, His-307 to Trp-313, Pro-315 to Val-320, Pro-322 to Ser-329, andSer-336 to Gly-354. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention, as are antibodies that bind one or more ofthese polypeptides. Moreover, fragments and variants of thesepolypeptides (e.g., fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to thesepolypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide whichhybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encodingthese polypeptides, or the complement thereof) are encompassed by theinvention. Antibodies that bind these fragments and variants of theinvention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these fragments and variants are also encompassed by theinvention.

This gene is expressed in gastrointestinal tissues, such as colon andsmall intestine tissue. This gene is also expressed in colon cancertissue.

Therefore, polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention, includingantibodies, are useful as reagents for differential identification ofthe tissue(s) or cell type(s) present in a biological sample and fordiagnosis of diseases and conditions which include but are not limitedto: diseases and/or disorders relating to the gastrointestinal system,including colon cancer. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directedto these polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of thegastrointestinal system, expression of this gene at significantly higheror lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or celltypes (e.g., gastrointestinal, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodilyfluids (e.g., lymph, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinalfluid) or another tissue or sample taken from an individual having sucha disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

The tissue distribution in gastrointestinal tissues, and the homology toa protein-tyrosine phosphatase, indicates that polynucleotides,translation products and antibodies corresponding to this gene areuseful for the diagnosis, detection and/or treatment of diseases and/ordisorders of the gastrointestinal system, including colon cancers and/orthose disclosed herein under “Gastrointestinal Disorders”. Translationproducts corresponding to this gene are expected to play a role in theregulation of cellular signaling, and may be important in detectingand/or treating disorders involving such cellular signaling.

More generally, the tissue distribution in gastrointestinal tissuesindicates that polynucleotides, translation products and antibodiescorresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosis and/or treatmentof disorders involving the small intestine, as well as thegastrointestinal system in general. This may include diseases associatedwith digestion and food absorption, as well as hematopoietic disordersinvolving the Peyer's patches of the small intestine, or otherhematopoietic cells and tissues within the body.

Similarly, expression of this gene product in colon tissue suggestsagain an involvement in digestion, processing, and elimination of food,as well as a potential role for this gene as a diagnostic marker orcausative agent in the development of colon cancer, and cancer ingeneral. The tissue distribution in colon cancer tissue indicates thattranslation products corresponding to this gene are good targets forantagonists, particularly small molecules or antibodies.

Accordingly, preferred are antibodies and or small molecules whichspecifically bind a portion of translation products corresponding tothis gene. Also provided is a kit for detecting colon cancer. Such a kitcomprises in one embodiment an antibody specific for the translationproduct(s) of this gene bound to a solid support. Also provided is amethod of detecting colon cancer in an individual which comprises a stepof contacting an antibody specific for these translation products to abodily fluid or biological sample from the individual, preferably serum,and ascertaining whether antibody binds to an antigen found in thebodily fluid or biological sample. Preferably the antibody is bound to asolid support and the bodily fluid is serum. The above embodiments, aswell as other treatments and diagnostic tests (kits and methods), aremore particularly described elsewhere herein.

Translation products of this gene, as well as antibodies directedagainst translation products of this gene, may show utility as tumormarkers and/or immunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

TABLE 1 NT AA ATCC SEQ 5′ NT 3′ NT 5′ NT SEQ Last Deposit ID Total of ofof ID AA Gene cDNA No: Z and NO: NT Clone Clone Start NO: of No.Plasmid: V Date Vector X Seq. Seq. Seq. Codon Y ORF 1 HPIBL64 PTA1200Uni-ZAP 2 2228 1 2228 146 4 603 Jan. 13, 2000 XR 2 HTEBS63 PTA1200Uni-ZAP 3 2872 1 2872 230 5 369 Jan. 13, 2000 XR

Table 1 summarizes the information corresponding to each “Gene No:”described above. The nucleotide sequence identified as “NT SEQ ID NO:X”was assembled from partially homologous (“overlapping”) sequencesobtained from the “cDNA Plasmid:V” identified in Table 1 and, in somecases, from additional related DNA clones. The overlapping sequenceswere assembled into a single contiguous sequence of high redundancy(usually three to five overlapping sequences at each nucleotideposition), resulting in a final sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X.

The cDNA Plasmid:V was deposited on the date and given the correspondingdeposit number listed in “ATCC Deposit No:Z and Date.” Some of thedeposits contain multiple different clones corresponding to the samegene. “Vector” refers to the type of vector contained in cDNA Plasmid:V.

“Total NT Seq.” refers to the total number of nucleotides in the contigidentified by “Gene No:”. The deposited plasmid contains all of thesesequences, reflected by the nucleotide position indicated as “5′ NT ofClone Seq.” and the “3′ NT of Clone Seq.” of SEQ ID NO:X. The nucleotideposition of SEQ ID NO:X of the putative methionine start codon (ifpresent) is identified as “5′ NT of Start Codon.” Similarly , thenucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the predicted signal sequence (ifpresent) is identified as “5′ NT of First AA of Signal Pep.”

The translated amino acid sequence, beginning with the first translatedcodon of the polynucleotide sequence, is identified as “AA SEQ ID NO:Y,”although other reading frames can also be easily translated using knownmolecular biology techniques. The polypeptides produced by thesealternative open reading frames are specifically contemplated by thepresent invention.

SEQ ID NO:X (where X may be any of the polynucleotide sequencesdisclosed in the sequence listing) and the translated SEQ ID NO:Y (whereY may be any of the polypeptide sequences disclosed in the sequencelisting) are sufficiently accurate and otherwise suitable for a varietyof uses well known in the art and described further below. For instance,SEQ ID NO:X has uses including, but not limited to, in designing nucleicacid hybridization probes that will detect nucleic acid sequencescontained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA contained in a deposited plasmid.These probes will also hybridize to nucleic acid molecules in biologicalsamples, thereby enabling a variety of forensic and diagnostic methodsof the invention. Similarly, polypeptides identified from SEQ ID NO:Yhave uses that include, but are not limited to generating antibodies,which bind specifically to the secreted proteins encoded by the cDNAclones identified in Table 1.

Nevertheless, DNA sequences generated by sequencing reactions cancontain sequencing errors. The errors exist as misidentifiednucleotides, or as insertions or deletions of nucleotides in thegenerated DNA sequence. The erroneously inserted or deleted nucleotidescause frame shifts in the reading frames of the predicted amino acidsequence. In these cases, the predicted amino acid sequence divergesfrom the actual amino acid sequence, even though the generated DNAsequence may be greater than 99.9% identical to the actual DNA sequence(for example, one base insertion or deletion in an open reading frame ofover 1000 bases).

Accordingly, for those applications requiring precision in thenucleotide sequence or the amino acid sequence, the present inventionprovides not only the generated nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ IDNO:X, and the predicted translated amino acid sequence identified as SEQID NO:Y, but also a sample of plasmid DNA containing a human cDNA of theinvention deposited with the ATCC, as set forth in Table 1. Thenucleotide sequence of each deposited plasmid can readily be determinedby sequencing the deposited plasmid in accordance with known methods.

The predicted amino acid sequence can then be verified from suchdeposits. Moreover, the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by aparticular plasmid can also be directly determined by peptide sequencingor by expressing the protein in a suitable host cell containing thedeposited human cDNA, collecting the protein, and determining itssequence.

Also provided in Table 1 is the name of the vector which contains thecDNA plasmid. Each vector is routinely used in the art. The followingadditional information is provided for convenience.

Vectors Lambda Zap (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Uni-Zap XR(U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Zap Express (U.S. Pat. Nos.5,128,256 and 5,286,636), pBluescript (pBS) (Short, J. M. et al.,Nucleic Acids Res. 16:7583-7600 (1988); Alting-Mees, M. A. and Short, J.M., Nucleic Acids Res. 17:9494 (1989)) and pBK (Alting-Mees, M. A. etal., Strategies 5:58-61 (1992)) are commercially available fromStratagene Cloning Systems, Inc., 11011 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla,Calif., 92037. pBS contains an ampicillin resistance gene and pBKcontains a neomycin resistance gene. Phagemid pBS may be excised fromthe Lambda Zap and Uni-Zap XR vectors, and phagemid pBK may be excisedfrom the Zap Express vector. Both phagemids may be transformed into E.coli strain XL-1 Blue, also available from Stratagene.

Vectors pSport1, pCMVSport 1.0, pCMVSport 2.0 and pCMVSport 3.0, wereobtained from Life Technologies, Inc., P. O. Box 6009, Gaithersburg, Md.20897. All Sport vectors contain an ampicillin resistance gene and maybe transformed into E. coli strain DH10B, also available from LifeTechnologies. See, for instance, Gruber, C. E., et al., Focus 15:59(1993). Vector lafmid BA (Bento Soares, Columbia University, New York,N.Y.) contains an ampicillin resistance gene and can be transformed intoE. coli strain XL-1 Blue. Vector pCR®2.1, which is available fromInvitrogen, 1600 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008, contains anampicillin resistance gene and may be transformed into E. coli strainDH10B, available from Life Technologies. See, for instance, Clark, J.M., Nuc. Acids Res. 16:9677-9686 (1988) and Mead, D. et al.,Bio/Technology 9: (1991).

The present invention also relates to the genes corresponding to SEQ IDNO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or a deposited plasmid (cDNA plasmid:V). Thecorresponding gene can be isolated in accordance with known methodsusing the sequence information disclosed herein. Such methods include,but are not limited to, preparing probes or primers from the disclosedsequence and identifying or amplifying the corresponding gene fromappropriate sources of genomic material.

Also provided in the present invention are allelic variants, orthologs,and/or species homologs. Procedures known in the art can be used toobtain full-length genes, allelic variants, splice variants, full-lengthcoding portions, orthologs, and/or species homologs of genescorresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or cDNA plasmid:V, usinginformation from the sequences disclosed herein or the clones depositedwith the ATCC. For example, allelic variants and/or species homologs maybe isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from thesequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid sourcefor allelic variants and/or the desired homologue.

The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising, oralternatively consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Xand/or cDNA plasmid:V. The present invention also provides a polypeptidecomprising, or alternatively, consisting of, the polypeptide sequence ofSEQ ID NO:Y, a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X, and/or a polypeptideencoded by the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V. Polynucleotides encoding apolypeptide comprising, or alternatively consisting of the polypeptidesequence of SEQ ID NO:Y, a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X and/or apolypeptide encoded by the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V, are also encompassedby the invention. The present invention further encompasses apolynucleotide comprising, or alternatively consisting of the complementof the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:X, and/or the complement ofthe coding strand of the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V.

Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, are publiclyavailable and accessible through sequence databases and may have beenpublicly available prior to conception of the present invention.Preferably, such related polynucleotides are specifically excluded fromthe scope of the present invention. To list every related sequence wouldunduly burden the disclosure of this application. Accordingly,preferably excluded from SEQ ID NO:X are one or more polynucleotidescomprising a nucleotide sequence described by the general formula ofa−b, where a is any integer between 1 and the final nucleotide minus 15of SEQ ID NO:X, b is an integer of 15 to the final nucleotide of SEQ IDNO:X, where both a and b correspond to the positions of nucleotideresidues shown in SEQ ID NO:X, and where b is greater than or equal toa+14.

RACE Protocol For Recovery of Full-Length Genes

Partial cDNA clones can be made full-length by utilizing the rapidamplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedure described in Frohman, M.A.,et al., Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:8998-9002 (1988). A cDNA clonemissing either the 5′ or 3′ end can be reconstructed to include theabsent base pairs extending to the translational start or stop codon,respectively. In some cases, cDNAs are missing the start of translation,therefor. The following briefly describes a modification of thisoriginal 5′ RACE procedure. Poly A+ or total RNA is reverse transcribedwith Superscript II (Gibco/BRL) and an antisense or complementary primerspecific to the cDNA sequence. The primer is removed from the reactionwith a Microcon Concentrator (Amicon). The first-strand cDNA is thentailed with dATP and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase (Gibco/BRL).Thus, an anchor sequence is produced which is needed for PCRamplification. The second strand is synthesized from the dA-tail in PCRbuffer, Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin-Elmer Cetus), an oligo-dT primercontaining three adjacent restriction sites (XhoI, SalI and ClaI) at the5′ end and a primer containing just these restriction sites. Thisdouble-stranded cDNA is PCR amplified for 40 cycles with the sameprimers as well as a nested cDNA-specific antisense primer. The PCRproducts are size-separated on an ethidium bromide-agarose gel and theregion of gel containing cDNA products the predicted size of missingprotein-coding DNA is removed. cDNA is purified from the agarose withthe Magic PCR Prep kit (Promega), restriction digested with XhoI orSalI, and ligated to a plasmid such as pBluescript SKII (Stratagene) atXhoI and EcoRV sites. This DNA is transformed into bacteria and theplasmid clones sequenced to identify the correct protein-coding inserts.Correct 5′ ends are confirmed by comparing this sequence with theputatively identified homologue and overlap with the partial cDNA clone.Similar methods known in the art and/or commercial kits are used toamplify and recover 3′ ends.

Several quality-controlled kits are commercially available for purchase.Similar reagents and methods to those above are supplied in kit formfrom Gibco/BRL for both 5′ and 3′ RACE for recovery of full lengthgenes. A second kit is available from Clontech which is a modificationof a related technique, SLIC (single-stranded ligation tosingle-stranded cDNA), developed by Dumas et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,19:5227-32 (1991). The major differences in procedure are that the RNAis alkaline hydrolyzed after reverse transcription and RNA ligase isused to join a restriction site-containing anchor primer to thefirst-strand cDNA. This obviates the necessity for the da-tailingreaction which results in a polyT stretch that is difficult to sequencepast.

An alternative to generating 5′ or 3′ cDNA from RNA is to use cDNAlibrary double-stranded DNA. An asymmetric PCR-amplified antisense cDNAstrand is synthesized with an antisense cDNA-specific primer and aplasmid-anchored primer. These primers are removed and a symmetric PCRreaction is performed with a nested cDNA-specific antisense primer andthe plasmid-anchored primer.

RNA Ligase Protocol For Generating the 5′ or 3′ End Sequences To ObtainFull Length Genes

Once a gene of interest is identified, several methods are available forthe identification of the 5′ or 3′ portions of the gene which may not bepresent in the original cDNA plasmid. These methods include, but are notlimited to, filter probing, clone enrichment using specific probes andprotocols similar and identical to 5′ and 3′RACE. While the full lengthgene may be present in the library and can be identified by probing, auseful method for generating the 5′ or 3′ end is to use the existingsequence information from the original cDNA to generate the missinginformation. A method similar to 5′RACE is available for generating themissing 5′ end of a desired full-length gene. (This method was publishedby Fromont-Racine et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21(7):1683-1684 (1993)).Briefly, a specific RNA oligonucleotide is ligated to the 5′ ends of apopulation of RNA presumably containing full-length gene RNA transcriptand a primer set containing a primer specific to the ligated RNAoligonucleotide and a primer specific to a known sequence of the gene ofinterest, is used to PCR amplify the 5′ portion of the desired fulllength gene which may then be sequenced and used to generate the fulllength gene. This method starts with total RNA isolated from the desiredsource, poly A RNA may be used but is not a prerequisite for thisprocedure. The RNA preparation may then be treated with phosphatase ifnecessary to eliminate 5′ phosphate groups on degraded or damaged RNAwhich may interfere with the later RNA ligase step. The phosphatase ifused is then inactivated and the RNA is treated with tobacco acidpyrophosphatase in order to remove the cap structure present at the 5′ends of messenger RNAs. This reaction leaves a 5′ phosphate group at the5′ end of the cap cleaved RNA which can then be ligated to an RNAoligonucleotide using T4 RNA ligase. This modified RNA preparation canthen be used as a template for first strand cDNA synthesis using a genespecific oligonucleotide. The first strand synthesis reaction can thenbe used as a template for PCR amplification of the desired 5′ end usinga primer specific to the ligated RNA oligonucleotide and a primerspecific to the known sequence of the PTPase gene of interest. Theresultant product is then sequenced and analyzed to confirm that the 5′end sequence belongs to the relevant PTBase gene.

Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Fragments

The present invention is also directed to polynucleotide fragments ofthe polynucleotides (nucleic acids) of the invention. In the presentinvention, a “polynucleotide fragment” refers to a polynucleotide havinga nucleic acid sequence which: is a portion of the cDNA contained incDNA plasmid:V or encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA containedin cDNA plasmid:V; is a portion of the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ IDNO:X or the complementary strand thereto; is a polynucleotide sequenceencoding a portion of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y; or is apolynucleotide sequence encoding a portion of a polypeptide encoded bySEQ ID NO:X. The nucleotide fragments of the invention are preferably atleast about 15 nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still morepreferably at least about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at leastabout 40 nt, at least about 50 nt, at least about 75 nt, at least about100 nt, at least about 125 nt, or at least about 150 nt in length. Afragment “at least 20 nt in length,” for example, is intended to include20 or more contiguous bases from, for example, the sequence contained inthe cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V, or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ IDNO:X or the: complementary stand thereto. In this context “about”includes the particularly recited value, or a value larger or smaller byseveral.(5.4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides. These nucleotide fragments haveuses that include, but are not limited to, as diagnostic probes andprimers as discussed herein. Of course, larger fragments (e.g., at least150, 175, 200, 250, 500, 600, 1000, or 2000 nucleotides in length) arealso encompassed by the invention.

Moreover, representative examples of polynucleotide fragments of theinvention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternativelyconsisting of, a sequence from about nucleotide number 1-50, 51-100,101-150, 151-200, 201-250, 251-300, 301-350, 351-400, 401-450, 451-500,501-550, 551-600, 601-650, 651-700, 701-750, 751-800, 801-850, 851-900,901-950, 951-1000, 1001-1050, 1051-1100, 1101-1150, 1151-1200,1201-1250, 1251-1300, 1301-1350, 1351-1400, 1401-1450, 1451-1500,1501-1550, 1551-1600, 1601-1650, 1651-1700, 1701-1750, 1751-1800,1801-1850, 1851-1900, 1901-1950, 1951-2000, 2001-2050, 2051-2100,2101-2150, 2151-2200, 2201-2250, 2251-2300, 2301-2350, 2351-2400,2401-2450, 2451-2500, 2501-2550, 2551-2600, 2601-2650, 2651-2700,2701-2750, 2751-2800, 2801-2850, and/or 2851-2872 of SEQ ID NO:X, or thecomplementary strand thereto. In this context “about” includes theparticularly recited range or a range larger or smaller by several (5,4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini.Preferably, these fragments encode a polypeptide which has a functionalactivity (e.g. biological activity) of the polypeptide encoded by apolynucleotide of which the sequence is a portion. More preferably,these fragments can be used as probes or primers as discussed herein.Polynucteotides which hybridize to one or more of these fragments understringent hybridization conditions or alternatively, under lowerstringency conditions, are also encompassed by the invention, as arepolypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides or fragments.

Moreover, representative examples of polynucleotide fragments of theinvention, include, for example, fragments comprising, or alternativelyconsisting of, a sequence from about nucleotide number 1-50, 51-100,101-150, 151-200, 201-250, 251-300, 301-350, 351-400, 401-450, 451-500,501-550, 551-600, 601-650,.651-700, 701-750, 751-800, 801-850, 851-900,901-950, 951-1000, 1001-1050, 1051-1100, 1101-1150, 1151-1200,1201-1250, 1251-1300, 1301-1350, 1351-1400, 1401-1450, 1451-1500,1501-1550, 1551-1600, 1601-1650, 1651-1700, 1701-1750, 1751-1800,1801-1850, 1851-1900, 1901-1950, 1951-2000, 2001-2050, 2051-2100,2101-2150, 2151-2200, 2201-2250, 2251-2300, 2301-2350, 2351-2400,2401-2450, 2451-2500, 2501-2550, 2551-2600, 2601-2650, 2651-2700,2701-2750, 2751-2800, 2801-2850, and/or 2851-2872 of the cDNA nucleotidesequence contained in cDNA plasmid:V, or the complementary strandthereto. In this context “about” includes the particularly recited rangeor a range larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides,at either terminus or at both ternini. Preferably, these fragmentsencode a polypeptide which has a functional activity (e.g. biologicalactivity) of the polypeptide encoded by the cDNA nucleotide sequencecontained in cDNA plasmid:V. More preferably, these fragments can beused as probes or primers as discussed herein. Polynucleotides whichhybridize to one or more of these fragments under stringenthybridization conditions, or alternatively, under lower stringencyconditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptidesencoded by these polynucleotides or fragments.

In the present invention, a “polypeptide fragment” refers to an aminoacid sequence which is a portion of that contained in SEQ ID NO:Y, aportion of an amino acid sequence encoded by the polynucleotide sequenceof SEQ ID NO:X, and/or encoded by the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V. Protein(polypeptide) fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within alarger polypeptide of which the fragment forms a part or region, mostpreferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples ofpolypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragmentscomprising, or alternatively consisting of, an amino acid sequence fromabout amino acid number 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-120,121-140, 141-160, 161-180, 181-200, 201-220, 221-240, 241-260, 261-280,281-300, 301-320, 321-340, 341-360, 361-380, 381-400, 401-420, 421-440,441-460, 461-480, 481-500, 501-520, 521-540, 541-560, 561-580, 581-600,and/or 601-603 of the coding region of SEQ ID NO:Y. Moreover,polypeptide fragments of the invention may be at least about 10, 15, 20,25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 110, 120,130, 140, or 150 amino acids in length. In this context “about” includesthe particularly recited ranges or values, or ranges or values larger orsmaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) amino acids, at either terminus orat both termini. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragmentsare also encompassed by the invention.

Even if deletion of one or more amino acids from the N-terminus of aprotein results in modification of loss of one or more biologicalfunctions of the protein, other functional activities (e.g., biologicalactivities, ability to multimerize, ability to bind a ligand) may stillbe retained. For example, the ability of shortened muteins to induceand/or bind to antibodies which recognize the complete or mature formsof the polypeptides generally will be retained when less than themajority of the residues of the complete or mature polypeptide areremoved from the N-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lackingN-terminal residues of a complete polypeptide retains such immunologicactivities can readily be determined by routine methods described hereinand otherwise known in the art. It is not unlikely that a mutein with alarge number of deleted N-terminal amino acid residues may retain somebiological or immunogenic activities. In fact, peptides composed of asfew as six amino acid residues may often evoke an immune response.

Accordingly, polypeptide fragments of the invention include the secretedprotein as well as the mature form. Further preferred polypeptidefragments include the secreted protein or the mature form having acontinuous series of deleted residues from the amino or the carboxyterminus, or both. For example, any number of amino acids, ranging from1-60, can be deleted from the amino terminus of either the secretedpolypeptide or the mature form. Similarly, any number of amino acids,ranging from 1-30, can be deleted from the carboxy terminus of thesecreted protein or mature form. Furthermore, any combination of theabove amino and carboxy terminus deletions are preferred. Similarly,polynucleotides encoding these polypeptide fragments are also preferred.

The present invention further provides polypeptides having one or moreresidues deleted from the amino terminus of the amino acid sequence of apolypeptide disclosed herein (e.g., a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, apolypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide sequence contained in SEQ IDNO:X, and/or a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained in cDNAplasmid:V). In particular, N-terminal deletions may be described by thegeneral formula m-q, where q is a whole integer representing the totalnumber of amino acid residues in a polypeptide of the invention (e.g.,the polypeptide disclosed in SEQ ID NO:Y), and m is defined as anyinteger ranging from 2 to q-6. Polynucleotides encoding thesepolypeptides, including fragments and/or variants, are also encompassedby the invention.

Also as mentioned above, even if deletion of one or more amino acidsfrom the C-terminus of a protein results in modification of loss of oneor more biological functions of the protein, other functional activities(e.g., biological activities, ability to multimerize, ability to bind aligand) may still be retained. For example the ability of the shortenedmutein to induce and/or bind to antibodies which recognize the completeor mature forms of the polypeptide generally will be retained when lessthan the majority of the residues of the complete or mature polypeptideare removed from the C-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptidelacking C-terminal residues of a complete polypeptide retains suchimmunologic activities can readily be determined by routine methodsdescribed herein and otherwise known in the art. It is not unlikely thata mutein with a large number of deleted C-terminal amino acid residuesmay retain some biological or immunogenic activities. In fact, peptidescomposed of as few as six amino acid residues may often evoke an immuneresponse.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides polypeptides havingone or more residues from the carboxy terminus of the amino acidsequence of a polypeptide disclosed herein (e.g., a polypeptide of SEQID NO:Y, a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide sequence containedin SEQ ID NO:X, and/or a polypeptide encoded by the cDNA contained incDNA plasmid:V). In particular, C-terminal deletions may be described bythe general formula 1-n, where n is any whole integer ranging from 6 toq-1, and where n corresponds to the position of an amino acid residue ina polypeptide of the invention. Polynucleotides encoding thesepolypeptides, including fragments and/or variants, are also encompassedby the invention.

In addition, any of the above described N- or C-terminal deletions canbe combined to produce a N- and C-terminal deleted polypeptide. Theinvention also provides polypeptides having one or more amino acidsdeleted from both the amino and the carboxyl termini, which may bedescribed generally as having residues m−n of a polypeptide encoded bySEQ ID NO:X (e.g., including, but not limited to, the preferredpolypeptide disclosed as SEQ ID NO:Y), and/or the cDNA in cDNAplasmid:V, and/or the complement thereof, where n and m are integers asdescribed above. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, includingfragments and/or variants, are also encompassed by the invention.

Any polypeptide sequence contained in the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y,encoded by the polynucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:X, orencoded by the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V may be analyzed to determinecertain preferred regions of the polypeptide. For example, the aminoacid sequence of a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide sequence ofSEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V may be analyzed using thedefault parameters of the DNASTAR computer algorithm (DNASTAR, Inc.,1228 S. Park SL, Madison, Wis. 53715 USA; http://www.dnastar.com/).

Polypeptide regions that may be routinely obtained using the DNASTARcomputer algorithm include, but are not limited to, Garnier-Robsonalpha-regions, beta-regions, turn-regions, and coil-regions, Chou-Fasmanalpha-regions, beta-regions, and turn-regions, Kyte-Doolittlehydrophilic regions and hydrophobic regions, Eisenberg alpha- andbeta-amphipathic regions, Karplus-Schulz flexible regions, Eminisurface-forming regions and Jameson-Wolf regions of high antigenicindex. Among highly preferred polynucleotides of the invention in thisregard are those that encode polypeptides comprising regions thatcombine several structural features, such as several (e.g., 1, 2, 3 or4) of the features set out above.

Additionally, Kyte-Doolittle hydrophilic regions and hydrophobicregions, Emini surface-formiing regions, and Jameson-Wolf regions ofhigh antigenic index (i.e., containing four or more contiguous aminoacids having an antigenic index of greater than orequal to 1.5, asidentified using the default parameters of the Jameson-Wolf program) canroutinely be used to determine polypeptide regions that exhibit a highdegree of potential for antigenicity. Regions of high antigenicity aredetermined from data by DNASTAR analysis by choosing values whichrepresent regions of the polypeptide which are likely to be exposed onthe surface of the polypeptide in an environment in which antigenrecognition may occur in the process of initiation of an immuneresponse.

Preferred polypeptide fragments of the invention are fragmentscomprising, or alternatively, consisting of, an amino acid sequence thatdisplays a functional activity (e.g. biological activity) of thepolypeptide sequence of which the amino acid sequence is a fragment. Bya polypeptide displaying a “functional activity” is meant a polyptidecapable of one or more known functional activities associated with afull-length protein, such as, for example, biological activity,antigenicity, immunogenicity, and/or multimerization, as describedsupra.

Other preferred polypeptide fragments are biologically active fragments.Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activity similar, butnot necessarily identical, to an activity of the polypeptide of thepresent invention. The biological activity of the fragments may includean improved desired activity, or a decreased undesirable. activity.

In preferred embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one, two, three, four, five or more of theantigenic fragments of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, or portionsthereof. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, includingfragments and/or variants, are also encompassed by the invention.

The present invention encompasses polypeptides comprising, oralternatively consisting of, an epitope of the polypeptide sequenceshown in SEQ ID NO:Y, or an epitope of the polypeptide sequence encodedby the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V, or encoded by a polynucleotide thathybridizes to the complement of an epitope encoding sequence of SEQ IDNO:X, or an epitope encoding sequence contained in cDNA plasmid:V understringent hybridization conditions, or alternatively, under lowerstringency hybridization, as defined supra. The present inventionfurther encompasses polynucleotide sequences encoding an epitope of apolypeptide sequence of the invention (such as, for example, thesequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X), polynucleotide sequences of thecomplementary strand of a polynucleotide sequence encoding an epitope ofthe invention, and polynucleotide sequences which hybridize to thiscomplementary strand under stringent hybridization conditions, oralternatively, under lower stringency hybridization conditions, asdefined supra.

The term “epitopes,” as used herein, refers to portions of a polypeptidehaving antigenic or immunogenic activity in an animal, preferably amammal, and most preferably in a human. In a preferred embodiment, thepresent invention encompasses a polypeptide comprising an epitope, aswell as the polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide. An “immunogenicepitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein thatelicits an antibody response in an animal, as determined by any methodknown in the art, for example, by the methods for generating antibodiesdescribed infra. (See, for example, Geysen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 81:3998-4002 (1983)). The term “antigenic epitope,” as usedherein, is defined as a portion of a protein to which an antibody canimmunospecifically bind its antigen as determined by any method wellknown in the art, for example, by the immunoassays described herein.Immunospecific binding excludes non-specific binding but does notnecessarily exclude cross- reactivity with other antigens. Antigenicepitopes need not necessarily be immunogenic.

Fragments which function as epitopes may be produced by any conventionalmeans. (See, e.g., Houghten, R. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA82:5131-5135 (1985) further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,211.)

In the present invention, antigenic epitopes preferably contain asequence of at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, morepreferably at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, atleast 30, at least 40, at least 50, and, most preferably, between about15 to about 30 amino acids. Preferred polypeptides comprisingimmunogenic or antigenic epitopes are at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 amino acidresidues in length. Additional non-exclusive preferred antigenicepitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well asportions thereof. Antigenic epitopes are useful, for example, to raiseantibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind theepitope. Preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopesdisclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, fiveor more of these antigenic epitopes. Antigenic epitopes can be used asthe target molecules in immunoassays. (See, for instance, Wilson et al.,Cell 37:767-778 (1984); Sutcliffe et al., Science 219:660-666 (1983)).

Similarly, immunogenic epitopes can be used, for example, to induceantibodies according to methods well known in the art. (See, forinstance, Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra; Chow et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:910-914; and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol.66:2347-2354 (1985). Preferred immunogenic epitopes include theimmunogenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination oftwo, three, four, five or more of these immunogenic epitopes. Thepolypeptides comprising one or more immunogenic epitopes may bepresented for eliciting an antibody response together with a carrierprotein, such as an albumin, to an animal system (such as rabbit ormouse), or, if the polypeptide is of sufficient length (at least about25 amino acids), the polypeptide may be presented without a carrier.However, immunogenic epitopes comprising as few as 8 to 10 amino acidshave been shown to be sufficient to raise antibodies capable of bindingto, at the very least, linear epitopes in a denatured polypeptide (e.g.,in Western blotting).

Epitope-bearing polypeptides of the present invention may be used toinduce antibodies according to methods well known in the art including,but not limited to, in vivo immunization, in vitro immunization, andphage display methods. See, e.g., Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson etal., supra, and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol., 66:2347-2354 (1985). Ifin vivo immunization is used, animals may be immunized with freepeptide; however, anti-peptide antibody titer may be boosted by couplingthe peptide to a macromolecular carrier, such as keyhole limpethemacyanin (KLH) or tetanus toxoid. For instance, peptides containingcysteine residues may be coupled to a carrier using a linker such asmaleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), while other peptidesmay be coupled to carriers using a more general linking agent such asglutaraldehyde. Animals such as rabbits, rats and mice are immunizedwith either free or carrier- coupled peptides, for instance, byintraperitoneal and/or intradermal injection of emulsions containingabout 100 μg of peptide or carrier protein and Freund's adjuvant or anyother adjuvant known for stimulating an immune response. Several boosterinjections may be needed, for instance, at intervals of about two weeks,to provide a useful titer of anti-peptide antibody which can bedetected, for example, by ELISA assay using free peptide adsorbed to asolid surface. The titer of anti-peptide antibodies in serum from animmunized animal may be increased by selection of anti-peptideantibodies, for instance, by adsorption to the peptide on a solidsupport and elution of the selected antibodies according to methods wellknown in the art.

As one of skill in the art will appreciate, and as discussed above, thepolypeptides of the present invention and immunogenic and/or antigenicepitope fragments thereof can be fused to other polypeptide sequences.For example, the polypeptides of the present invention may be fused withthe constant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM), or portionsthereof (CH1, CH2, CH3, or any combination thereof and portions thereof)resulting in chimeric polypeptides. Such fusion proteins may facilitatepurification and may increase half-life in vivo. This has been shown forchimeric proteins consisting of the first two domains of the humanCD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavyor light chains of mammalian. immunoglobulins. See, e.g., EP 394,827;Traunecker et al., Nature, 331:84-86 (1988). Enhanced delivery of anantigen across the epithelial barrier to the immune system has beendemonstrated for antigens (e.g., insulin) conjugated to an FcRn bindingpartner such as IgG or Fc fragments (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO96/22024 and WO 99/04813). IgG Fusion proteins that have adisulfide-linked dimeric structure due to the IgG portion desulfidebonds have also been found to be more efficient in binding andneutralizing other molecules than monomeric polypeptides or fragmentsthereof alone. See, e.g., Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem.,270:3958-3964 (1995).

Similarly, EP-A-0 464 533 (Canadian counterpart 2045869) disclosesfusion proteins comprising various portions of constant region ofimmunoglobulin molecules together with another human protein or partthereof. In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial intherapy and diagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improvedpharmacokinetic properties. (EP-A 0232 262.) Alternatively, deleting theFc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected, andpurified, may be desired. For example, the Fc portion may hinder therapyand diagnosis if the fusion protein is used as an antigen forimmunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such ashIL-5, have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose ofhigh-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. (See,D. Bennett et al., J. Molecular Recognition 8:52-58 (1995); K. Johansonet al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:9459-9471 (1995)).

Moreover, the polypeptides of the present invention can be fused tomarker sequences, such as a peptide which facilitates purification ofthe fused polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acidsequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQEvector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311),among others, many of which are commercially available. As described inGentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), forinstance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of thefusion protein. Another peptide tag useful for purification, the “HA”tag, corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutininprotein. (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984)).

Thus, any of these above fusions can be engineered using thepolynucleotides or the polypeptides of the present invention.

Nucleic acids encoding the above epitopes can also be recombined with agene of interest as an epitope tag (e.g., the hemagglutinin (“HA”) tagor flag tag) to aid in detection and purification of the expressedpolypeptide. For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allowsfor the ready purification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed inhuman cell lines (Janknecht et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA88:8972-897 (1991)). In this system, the gene of interest is subclonedinto a vaccinia recombination plasmid such that the open reading frameof the gene is translationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consistingof six histidine residues. The tag serves as a matrix binding domain forthe fusion protein. Extracts from cells infected with the recombinantvaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni2+ nitriloacetic acid-agarose columnand histidine-tagged proteins can be selectively eluted withimidazole-containing buffers.

Additional fusion proteins of the invention may be generated through thetechniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling, exon-shuffling, and/orcodon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNA shuffling”). DNAshuffling may be employed to modulate the activities of polypeptides ofthe invention, such methods can be used to generate polypeptides withaltered activity, as well as agonists and antagonists of thepolypeptides. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793; 5,811,238;5,830,721; 5,834,252; and 5,837,458, and Patten et al., Curr. OpinionBiotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82(1998); Hansson, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); and Lorenzoand Blasco, Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998) (each of these patents andpublications are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Inone embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides corresponding to SEQ IDNO:X and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides may beachieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involves the assembly of two ormore DNA segments by homologous or site-specific recombination togenerate variation in the polynucleotide sequence. In anotherembodiment, polynucleotides of the invention, or the encodedpolypeptides, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis byerror-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior torecombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs,sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of a polynucleotide encodinga polypeptide of the invention may be recombined with one or morecomponents, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one ormore heterologous molecules.

Polynucleotide avid Polypeptide Variants

The invention also encompasses PTPase variants. The present invention isdirected to variants of the polynucleotide sequence disclosed in SEQ IDNO:X or the complementary strand thereto, and/or the cDNA sequencecontained in cDNA plasmid:V.

The present invention also encompasses variants of the polypeptidesequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:Y, a polypeptide sequence encoded by thepolynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X and/or a polypeptide sequenceencoded by the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V.

“Variant” refers to a polynucleotide or polypeptide differing from thepolynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention, but retainingproperties thereof. Generally, variants are overall closely similar,and, in many regions, identical to the polynucleotide or polypeptide ofthe present invention.

Thus, one aspect of the invention provides an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polynucleotidehaving a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a)a nucleotide sequence described in SEQ ID NO:X or contained in the cDNAsequence of Plasmid:V; (b) a nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X or thecDNA in Plasmid:V which encodes the complete amino acid sequence of SEQID NO:Y or the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA inPlasmid:V; (c) a nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA inPlasmid:V which encodes a mature PTPase polypeptide; (d) a nucleotidesequence in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA sequence of Plasmid:V, which encodesa biologically active fragment of a PTPase polypeptide; (e) a nucleotidesequence in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA sequence of Plasmid:V, which encodesan antigenic fragment of a PTPase polypeptide; (f) a nucleotide sequenceencoding a PTPase polypeptide comprising the complete amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or the complete amino acid sequence encoded bythe cDNA in Plasmid:V; (g) a nucleotide sequence encoding a maturePTPase polypeptide of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or theamino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA in Plasmid:V; (h) a nucleotidesequence encoding a biologically active fragment of a PTPase polypeptidehaving the complete amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or the completeamino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA in Plasmid:V; (i) a nucleotidesequence encoding an antigenic fragment of a PTPBase polypeptide havingthe complete amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or the complete aminoacid sequence encoded by the cDNA in Plasmid:V; and (j) a nucleotidesequence complementary to any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b),(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), or (i) above.

The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid molecules whichcomprise, or alternatively consist of, a nucleotide sequence which is atleast 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%, identical to, forexample, any of the nucleotide sequences in (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),(f), (g), (h), (i), or (j) above, the nucleotide coding sequence in SEQID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, the nucleotide codingsequence of the cDNA contained in Plasmid:V or the complementary strandthereto, a nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y,a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide sequence encoded by thenucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X, a polypeptide sequence encoded bythe complement of the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X, anucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNAcontained in Plasmid:V, the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X encodingthe polypeptide sequence as defined in column 10 of Table 1 or thecomplementary strand thereto, nucleotide sequences encoding thepolypeptide as defined in column 10 of Table 1 or the complementarystrand thereto, and/or polynucleotide fragments of any of these nucleicacid molecules (e.g., those fragments described herein). Polynucleotideswhich hybridize to the complement of these nucleic acid molecules understringent hybridization conditions or alternatively, under lowerstringency conditions, are also encompassed by the invention, as arepolypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides and nucleic acids.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention encompasses nucleic acidmolecules which comprise, or alternatively, consist of a polynucleotidewhich hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions, oralternatively, under lower stringency conditions, to a polynucleotide in(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), or (i), above, as arepolypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides. In another preferredembodiment, polynucleotides which hybridize to the complement of thesenucleic acid molecules under stringent hybridization conditions, oralternatively, under lower stringency conditions, are also encompassedby the invention, as are polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a purified proteincomprising, or alternatively consisting of, a polypeptide having anamino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) thecomplete amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y or the complete amino acidsequence encoded by the cDNA in Plasmid:V; (b) the amino acid sequenceof a mature form of a PTPase polypeptide having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y or the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA inPlasmid:V; (c) the amino acid sequence of a biologically active fragmentof a PTPase polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence of SEQID NO:Y or the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA inPlasmid:V; and (d) the amino acid sequence of an antigenic fragment of aPTPase polypeptide having the complete amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:Y or the complete amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA inPlasmid:V.

The present invention is also directed to proteins which comprise, oralternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 80%,85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%, identical to, for example,any of the amino acid sequences in (a), (b), (c), or (d), above, theamino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y, the amino acid sequenceencoded by the cDNA contained in Plasmid:V, the amino acid sequence asdefined in column 10 of Table 1, an amino acid sequence encoded by thenucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X, and an amino acid sequence encodedby the complement of the polynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X.Fragments of these polypeptides are also provided (e.g., those fragmentsdescribed herein). Further proteins encoded by polynucleotides whichhybridize to the complement of the nucleic acid molecules encoding theseamino acid sequences under stringent hybridization conditions oralternatively, under lower stringency conditions, are also encompassedby the invention, as are the polynucleotides encoding these proteins.

By a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least, for example,95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence of the presentinvention, it is intended that the nucleotide sequence of the nucleicacid is identical to the reference sequence except that the nucleotidesequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100 nucleotidesof the reference nucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide. In otherwords, to obtain a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least95% identical to a reference nucleotide sequence, up to 5% of thenucleotides in the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted withanother nucleotide, or a number of nucleotides up to 5% of the totalnucleotides in the reference sequence may be inserted into the referencesequence. The query sequence may be an entire sequence referred to inTable 1, the ORF (open reading frame), or any fragment specified asdescribed herein.

As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acid molecule orpolypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99%identical to a nucleotide sequence of the present invention can bedetermined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferredmethod for determining the best overall match between a query sequence(a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, alsoreferred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using theFASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp.App. Biosci. 6:237-245 (1990)). In a sequence alignment the query andsubject sequences are both DNA sequences. An RNA sequence can becompared by converting U's to T's. The result of said global sequencealignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDBalignment of DNA sequences to calculate percent identiy are:Matrix=Unitary, k-tuple=4, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=30,Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Gap Penalty=5, Gap SizePenalty 0.05, Window Size=500 or the lenght of the subject nucleotidesequence, whichever is shorter.

If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence because of 5′or 3′ deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manual correctionmust be made to the results. This is because the FASTDB program does notaccount for 5′ and 3′ truncations of the subject sequence whencalculating percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the 5′or 3′ ends, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity iscorrected by calculating the number of bases of the query sequence thatare 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned, asa percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whether a nucleotideis matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDB sequencealignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity,calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters,to arrive at a final percent identity score. This corrected score iswhat is used for the purposes of the present invention. Only basesoutside the 5′ and 3′ bases of the subject sequence, as displayed by theFASTDB alignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence,are calculated for the purposes of manually adjusting the percentidentity score.

For example, a 90 base subject sequence is aligned to a 100 base querysequence to determine percent identity. The deletions occur at the 5′end of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does notshow a matched/alignment of the first 10 bases at 5′ end. The 10unpaired bases represent 10% of the sequence (number of bases at the 5′and 3′ ends not matched/total number of bases in the query sequence) so10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by theFASTDB program. If the remaining 90 bases were perfectly matched thefinal percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 basesubject sequence is compared with a 100 base query sequence. This timethe deletions are internal deletions so that there are no bases on the5′ or 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with thequery. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is notmanually corrected. Once again, only bases 5′ and 3′ of the subjectsequence which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence aremanually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for thepurposes of the present invention.

By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example,95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence of the present invention,it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subject polypeptideis identical to the query sequence except that the subject polypeptidesequence may include up to five amino acid alterations per each 100amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtaina polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to aquery amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acid residues in thesubject sequence may be inserted, deleted, (indels) or substituted withanother amino acid. These alterations of the reference sequence mayoccur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of the reference aminoacid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersedeither individually among residues in the reference sequence or in oneor more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, for instance, theamino acid sequence referred to in Table 1 or a fragment thereof, theamino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X ora fragment thereof, or to the amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA incDNA plasmid:V, or a fragment thereof, can be determined conventionallyusing known computer programs. A preferred method for determing the bestoverall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the presentinvention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequencealignment, can be determined using the FASTDB computer program based onthe algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci.6:237-245(1990)). Ina sequence alignment the query and subject sequences are either bothnucleotide sequences or both amino acid sequences. The result of saidglobal sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parametersused in a FASTDB amino acid alignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2,Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0,Cutoff Score=1, Window Size=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5, Gap SizePenalty=0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino acidsequence, whichever is shorter.

If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence due to N- orC-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manualcorrection must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDBprogram does not account for N- and C-terminal truncations of thesubject sequence when calculating global percent identity. For subjectsequences truncated at the N- and C-termini, relative to the querysequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number ofresidues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminal of the subjectsequence, which are not matched/aligned with a corresponding subjectresidue, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whethera residue is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDBsequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percentidentity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specifiedparameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This finalpercent identity score is what is used for the purposes of the presentinvention. Only residues to the N- and C-termini of the subjectsequence, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, areconsidered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identityscore. That is, only query residue positions outside the farthest N- andC-terminal residues of the subject sequence.

For example, a 90 amino acid residue subject sequence is aligned with a100 residue query sequence to determine percent identity. The deletionoccurs at the N-terminus of the subject sequence and therefore, theFASTDB alignment does not show a matching/alignment of the first 10residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% ofthe sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini notmatched/total number of residues in the query sequence) so 10% issubtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDBprogram. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched the finalpercent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 residue subjectsequence is compared with a 100 residue query sequence. This time thedeletions are internal deletions so there are no residues at the N- orC-termini of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with thequery. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is notmanually corrected. Once again, only residue positions outside the N-and C-terminal ends of the subject sequence, as displayed in the FASTDBalignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence aremanually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for thepurposes of the present invention.

The variants may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-codingregions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotide variantscontaining alterations which produce silent substitutions, additions, ordeletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encodedpolypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due tothe degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred. Moreover, variants inwhich less than 50, less than 40, less than 30, less than 20, less than10, or 5-50, 5-25, 5-10, 1-2 amino acids are substituted, deleted, oradded in any combination are also preferred. Polynucleotide variants canbe produced for a variety of reasons, e.g., to optimize codon expressionfor a particular host (change codons in the human mRNA to thosepreferred by a bacterial host such as E. coli).

Naturally occurring variants are called “allelic variants,” and refer toone of several alternate forms of a gene occupying a given locus on achromosome of an organism. (Genes II, Lewin, B., ed., John Wiley & Sons,New York (1985)). These allelic variants can vary at either thepolynucleotide and/or polypeptide level and are included in the presentinvention. Alternatively, non-naturally occurring variants may beproduced by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

Using known methods of protein engineering and recombinant DNAtechnology, variants may be generated to improve or alter thecharacteristics of the polypeptides of the present invention. Forinstance, as discussed herein, one or more amino acids can be deletedfrom the N-terminus or C-terminus of the polypeptide of the presentinvention without substantial loss of biological function. The authorsof Ron et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268: 2984-2988 (1993), reported variantKGF proteins having heparin binding activity even after deleting 3, 8,or 27 amino-terminal amino acid residues. Similarly, Interferon gammaexhibited up to ten times higher activity after deleting 8-10 amino acidresidues from the carboxy terminus of this protein. (Dobeli et al., J.Biotechnology 7:199-216 (1988)).

Moreover, ample evidence demonstrates that variants often retain abiological activity similar to that of the naturally occurring protein.For example, Gayle and coworkers (J. Biol. Chem 268:22105-22111 (1993))conducted extensive mutational analysis of human cytokine IL-1a. Theyused random mutagenesis to generate over 3,500 individual IL-1a mutantsthat averaged 2.5 amino acid changes per variant over the entire lengthof the molecule. Multiple mutations were examined at every possibleamino acid position. The investigators found that “[m]ost of themolecule could be altered with little effect on either [binding orbiological activity].” (See, Abstract.) In fact, only 23 unique aminoacid sequences, out of more than 3,500 nucleotide sequences examined,produced a protein that significantly differed in activity fromwild-type.

Furthermore, as discussed herein, even if deleting one or more aminoacids from the N-terminus or C-terminus of a polypeptide results inmodification or loss of one or more biological functions, otherbiological activities may still be retained. For example, the ability ofa deletion variant to induce and/or to bind antibodies which recognizethe secreted form will likely be retained when less than the majority ofthe residues of the secreted form are removed from the N-terminus orC-terminus. Whether a particular polypeptide lacking N- or C-terminalresidues of a protein retains such immunogenic activities can readily bedetermined by routine methods described herein and otherwise known inthe art.

Thus, the invention further includes polypeptide variants which show afunctional activity (e.g. biological activity) of the polypeptide of theinvention, of which they are a variant. Such variants include deletions,insertions, inversions, repeats, and substitutions selected according togeneral rules known in the art so as have little effect on activity.

The present application is directed to nucleic acid molecules at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the nucleicacid sequences disclosed herein, (e.g., encoding a polypeptide havingthe amino acid sequence of an N and/or C terminal deletion),irrespective of whether they encode a polypeptide having functionalactivity. This is because even where a particular nucleic acid moleculedoes not encode a polypeptide having functional activity, one of skillin the art would still know how to use the nucleic acid molecule, forinstance, as a hybridization probe or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)primer. Uses of the nucleic acid molecules of the present invention thatdo not encode a polypeptide having functional activity include, interalia, (1) isolating a gene or allelic or splice variants thereof in acDNA library; (2) in situ hybridization (e.g., “FISH”) to metaphasechromosomal spreads to provide, precise chromosomal location of thegene, as described in Verma et al., Human Chromosomes: A Manual of BasicTechniques, Pergamon Press, New York (1988); and (3) Northern Blotanalysis for detecting mRNA expression in specific tissues.

Preferred, however, are nucleic acid molecules having sequences at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the nucleicacid sequences disclosed herein, which do, in fact, encode a polypeptidehaving functional activity of a polypeptide of the invention.

Of course, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, one of ordinaryskill in the art will immediately recognize that a large number of thenucleic acid molecules having a sequence at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identical to, for example, the nucleic acidsequence of the cDNA in cDNA plasmid:V, the nucleic acid sequencereferred to in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:X), or fragments thereof, will encodepolypeptides “having functional activity.” In fact, since degeneratevariants of any of these nucleotide sequences all encode the samepolypeptide, in many instances, this will be clear to the skilledartisan even without performing the above described comparison assay. Itwill be further recognized in the art that, for such nucleic acidmolecules that are not degenerate variants, a reasonable number willalso encode a polypeptide having functional activity. This is becausethe skilled artisan is fully aware of amino acid substitutions that areeither less likely or not likely to significantly effect proteinfunction (e.g., replacing one aliphatic amino acid with a secondaliphatic amino acid), as further described below.

For example, guidance concerning how to make phenotypically silent aminoacid substitutions is provided in Bowie et al., “Deciphering the Messagein Protein Sequences: Tolerance to Amino Acid Substitutions,” Science247:1306-1310 (1990), wherein the authors indicate that there are twomain strategies for studying the tolerance of an amino acid sequence tochange.

The first strategy exploits the tolerance of amino acid substitutions bynatural selection during the process of evolution. By comparing aminoacid sequences in different species, conserved amino acids can beidentified. These conserved amino acids are likely important for proteinfunction. In contrast, the amino acid positions where substitutions havebeen tolerated by natural selection indicates that these positions arenot critical for protein function. Thus, positions tolerating amino acidsubstitution could be modified while still maintaining biologicalactivity of the protein.

The second strategy uses genetic engineering to introduce amino acidchanges at specific positions of a cloned gene to identify regionscritical for protein function. For example, site directed mutagenesis oralanine-scanning mutagenesis (introduction of single alanine mutationsat every residue in the molecule) can be used. (Cunningham and Wells,Science 244:1081-1085 (1989)). The resulting mutant molecules can thenbe tested for biological activity.

As the authors state, these two strategies have revealed that proteinsare surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions. The authorsfurther indicate which amino acid changes are likely to be permissive atcertain amino acid positions in the protein. For example, most buried(within the tertiary structure of the protein) amino acid residuesrequire nonpolar side chains, whereas few features of surface sidechains are generally conserved. Moreover, tolerated conservative aminoacid substitutions involve replacement of the aliphatic or hydrophobicamino acids Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; replacement of the hydroxyl residuesSer and Thr; replacement of the acidic residues Asp and Glu; replacementof the amide residues Asn and Gln, replacement of the basic residuesLys, Arg, and His; replacement of the aromatic residues Phe, Tyr, andTrp, and replacement of the small-sized amino acids Ala, Ser, Thr, Met,and Gly. Besides conservative amino acid substitution, variants of thepresent invention include (i) substitutions with one or more of thenon-conserved amino acid residues, where the substituted amino acidresidues may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii)substitution with one or more of amino acid residues having asubstituent group, or (iii) fusion of the mature polypeptide withanother compound, such as a compound to increase the stability and/orsolubility of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or(iv) fusion of the polypeptide with additional amino acids, such as, forexample, an IgG Fc fusion region peptide, or leader or secretorysequence, or a sequence facilitating purification or (v) fusion of thepolypeptide with another compound, such as albumin (including but notlimited to recombinant albumin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,969,issued Mar. 2, 1999, EP Patent 0 413 622, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,883,issued Jun. 16, 1998, herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety)). Such variant polypeptides are deemed to be within the scopeof those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

For example, polypeptide variants containing amino acid substitutions ofcharged amino acids with other charged or neutral amino acids mayproduce proteins with improved characteristics, such as lessaggregation. Aggregation of pharmaceutical formulations both reducesactivity and increases clearance due to the aggregate's immunogenicactivity. (Pinckard et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2:331-340 (1967);Robbins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845 (1987); Cleland et al., Crit. Rev.Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10:307-377 (1993)).

A further embodiment of the invention relates to a polypeptide whichcomprises the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide having an amino acidsequence which contains at least one amino acid substitution, but notmore than 50 amino acid substitutions, even more preferably, not morethan 40 amino acid substitutions, still more preferably, not more than30 amino acid substitutions, and still even more preferably, not morethan 20 amino acid substitutions. Of course it is highly preferable fora polypeptide to have an amino acid sequence which comprises the aminoacid sequence of a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, an amino acid sequenceencoded by SEQ ID NO:X, and/or the amino acid sequence encoded by thecDNA in cDNA plasmid:V which contains, in order of ever-increasingpreference, at least one, but not more than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2or 1 amino acid substitutions. In specific embodiments, the number ofadditions, substitutions, and/or deletions in the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:Y or fragments thereof (e.g., the mature form and/or otherfragments described herein), an amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ IDNO:X or fragments thereof, and/or the amino acid sequence encoded bycDNA plasmid:V or fragments thereof, is 1-5, 5-10, 5-25, 5-50, 10-50 or50-150, conservative amino acid substitutions are preferable. Asdiscussed herein, any polypeptide of the present invention can be usedto generate fusion proteins. For example, the polypeptide of the presentinvention, when fused to a second protein, can be used as an antigenictag. Antibodies raised against the polypeptide of the present inventioncan be used to indirectly detect the second protein by binding to thepolypeptide. Moreover, because secreted proteins target cellularlocations based on trafficking signals, polypeptides of the presentinvention which are shown to be secreted can be used as targetingmolecules once fused to other proteins.

Examples of domains that can be fused to polypeptides of the presentinvention include not only heterologous signal sequences, but also otherheterologous functional regions. The fusion does not necessarily need tobe direct, but may occur through linker sequences.

In certain preferred embodiments, proteins of the invention comprisefusion proteins wherein the polypeptides are N and/or C- terminaldeletion mutants. In preferred embodiments, the application is directedto nucleic acid molecules at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or99% identical to the nucleic acid sequences encoding polypeptides havingthe amino acid sequence of the specific N- and C-terminal deletionsmutants. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, includingfragments and/or variants, are also encompassed by the invention.

Moreover, fusion proteins may also be engineered to improvecharacteristics of the polypeptide of the present invention. Forinstance, a region of additional amino acids, particularly charged aminoacids, may be added to the N-terminus of the polypeptide to improvestability and persistence during purification from the host cell orsubsequent handling and storage. Also, peptide moieties may be added tothe polypeptide to facilitate purification. Such regions may be removedprior to final preparation of the polypeptide. The addition of peptidemoieties to facilitate handling of polypeptides are familiar and routinetechniques in the art.

As one of skill in the art will appreciate, polypeptides of the presentinvention of the present invention and the epitope-bearing fragmentsthereof described above can be combined with heterologous polypeptidesequences. For example, the polypeptides of the present invention may befused with heterologous polypeptide sequences, for example, thepolypeptides of the present invention may be fused with the constantdomain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM) or portions thereof (CH1,CH2, CH3, and any combination thereof, including both entire domains andportions thereof), resulting in chimeric polypeptides. These fusionproteins facilitate purification and show an increased half-life invivo. One reported example describes chimeric proteins consisting of thefirst two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and various domains ofthe constant regions of the heavy or light chains of mammalianimmunoglobulins. (EP A 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature 331:84-86(1988)). Fusion proteins having disulfide-linked dimeric structures (dueto the IgG) can also be more efficient in binding and neutralizing othermolecules, than the monomeric protein or protein fragment alone.(Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964 (1995)).

Vectors, Host Cells, and Protein Production

The present invention also relates to vectors containing thepolynucleotide of the present invention, host cells, and the productionof polypeptides by recombinant techniques. The vector may be, forexample, a phage, plasmid, viral, or retroviral vector. Retroviralvectors may be replication competent or replication defective. In thelatter case, viral propagation generally will occur only incomplementing host cells.

The polynucleotides of the invention may be joined to a vectorcontaining a selectable marker for propagation in a host. Generally, aplasmid vector is introduced in a precipitate, such as a calciumphosphate precipitate, or in a complex with a charged lipid. If thevector is a virus, it may be packaged in vitro using an appropriatepackaging cell line and then transduced into host cells.

The polynucleotide insert should be operatively linked to an appropriatepromoter, such as the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. coli lac, trp,phoA and tac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters and promotersof retroviral LTRs, to name a few. Other suitable promoters will beknown to the skilled artisan. The expression constructs will furthercontain sites for transcription initiation, termination, and, in thetranscribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. The codingportion of the transcripts expressed by the constructs will preferablyinclude a translation initiating codon at the beginning and atermination codon (UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at the endof the polypeptide to be translated.

As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include at leastone selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolate reductase,G418 or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture andtetracycline, kanamycin or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing inE. coli and other bacteria Representative examples of appropriate hostsinclude, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli,Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such asyeast cells (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris (ATCCAccession No. 201178)); insect cells such as Drosophila S2 andSpodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, 293, and Bowesmelanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums andconditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.

Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria include pQE70, pQE60 andpQE-9, available from QIAGEN, Inc.; pBluescript vectors, Phagescriptvectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from StratageneCloning Systems, Inc.; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3i pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5available from Pharmacia Biotech, Inc. Among preferred eukaryoticvectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available fromStratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia.Preferred expression vectors for use in yeast systems include, but arenot limited to pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ,pGAPZalph, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, pPIC9K, andPAO815 (all available from Invitrogen, Carlbad, Calif.). Other suitablevectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected bycalcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection,cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction,infection, or other methods. Such methods are described in many standardlaboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In MolecularBiology (1986). It is specifically contemplated that the polypeptides ofthe present invention may in fact be expressed by a host cell lacking arecombinant vector.

A polypeptide of this invention can be recovered and purified fromrecombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammoniumsulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cationexchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobicinteraction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatitechromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, highperformance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification.

Polypeptides of the present invention can also be recovered from:products purified from natural sources, including bodily fluids, tissuesand cells, whether directly isolated or cultured; products of chemicalsynthetic procedures; and products produced by recombinant techniquesfrom a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example,bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect, and mammalian cells. Dependingupon the host employed in a recombinant production procedure, thepolypeptides of the present invention may be glycosylated or may benon-glycosylated. In addition, polypeptides of the invention may alsoinclude an initial modified methionine residue, in some cases as aresult of host-mediated processes. Thus, it is well known in the artthat the N-terminal methionine encoded by the translation initiationcodon generally is removed with high efficiency from any protein aftertranslation in all eukaryotic cells. While the N-terminal methionine onmost proteins also is efficiently removed in most prokaryotes, for someproteins, this prokaryotic removal process is inefficient, depending onthe nature of the amino acid to which the N-terminal methionine iscovalently linked.

In one embodiment, the yeast Pichia pastoris is used to expresspolypeptides of the invention in a eukaryotic system. Pichia pastoris isa methylotrophic yeast which can metabolize methanol as its sole carbonsource. A main step in the methanol metabolization pathway is theoxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using O₂. This reaction iscatalyzed by the enzyme alcohol oxidase. In order to metabolize methanolas its sole carbon source, Pichia pastoris must generate high levels ofalcohol oxidase due, in part, to the relatively low affinity of alcoholoxidase for O₂. Consequently, in a growth medium depending on methanolas a main carbon source, the promoter region of one of the two alcoholoxidase genes (AOX1) is highly active. In the presence of methanol,alcohol oxidase produced from the AOX1 gene comprises up toapproximately 30% of the total soluble protein in Pichia pastoris. See,Ellis, S.B., et al, Mol. Cell Biol. 5:1111-21 (1985); Koutz, P. J, etal., Yeast 5:167-77 (1989); Tschopp, J. F., et al., Nucl. Acids Res.15:3859-76 (1987). Thus, a heterologous coding sequence, such as, forexample, a polynucleotide of the present invention, under thetranscriptional regulation of all or part of the AOX1 regulatorysequence is expressed at exceptionally high levels in Pichia yeast grownin the presence of methanol.

In one example, the plasmid vector pPIC9K is used to express DNAencoding a polypeptide of the invention, as set forth herein, in aPichea yeast system essentially as described in “Pichia Protocols:Methods in Molecular Biology,” D. R. Higgins and J. Cregg, eds. TheHumana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1998. This expression vector allowsexpression and secretion of a polypeptide of the invention by virtue ofthe strong AOX1 promoter linked to the Pichia pastoris alkalinephosphatase (PHO) secretory signal peptide (i.e., leader) locatedupstream of a multiple cloning site.

Many other yeast vectors could be used in place of pPIC9K, such as,pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalpha, pPIC9,pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, and PAO815, as one skilled in theart would readily appreciate, as long as the proposed expressionconstruct provides appropriately located signals for transcription,translation, secretion (if desired), and the like, including an in-frameAUG as required.

In another embodiment, high-level expression of a heterologous codingsequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide of the presentinvention, may be achieved by cloning the heterologous polynucleotide ofthe invention into an expression vector such as, for example, pGAPZ orpGAPZalpha, and growing the yeast culture in the absence of methanol.

In addition to encompassing host cells containing the vector constructsdiscussed herein, the invention also encompasses primary, secondary, andimmortalized host cells of vertebrate origin, particularly mammalianorigin, that have been engineered to delete or replace endogenousgenetic material (e.g., coding sequence), and/or to include geneticmaterial (e.g., heterologous polynucleotide sequences) that is operablyassociated with polynucleotides of the invention, and which activates,alters, and/or amplifies endogenous polynucleotides. For example,techniques known in the art may be used to operably associateheterologous control regions (e.g., promoter and/or enhancer) andendogenous polynucleotide sequences via homologous recombination (see,e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; InternationalPublication No. WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; InternationalPublication No. WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijistra et al.,Nature 342:435-438 (1989), the disclosures of each of which areincorporated by reference in their entireties).

In addition, polypeptides of the invention can be chemically synthesizedusing techniques known in the art (e.g., see Creighton, 1983, Proteins:Structures and Molecular Principles, W. H. Freeman & Co., N.Y., andHunkapiller et al., Nature, 310:105-111 (1984)). For example, apolypeptide corresponding to a fragment of a polypeptide can besynthesized by use of a peptide synthesizer. Furthermore, if desired,nonclassical amino acids or chemical amino acid analogs can beintroduced as a substitution or addition into the polypeptide sequence.Non-classical amino acids include, but are not limited to, to theD-isomers of the common amino acids, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, a-aminoisobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, g-Abu,e-Ahx, 6-amino hexanoic acid, Aib, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-aminopropionic acid, ornithine, norleiucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline,sarcosine, citrulline, homocitrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine,t-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, b-alanine,fluoro-amino acids, designer amino acids such as b-methyl amino acids,Ca-methyl amino acids, Na-methyl amino acids, and amino acid analogs ingeneral. Furthermore, the amino acid can be D (dextrorotary) or L(levorotary).

The invention encompasses polypeptides of the present invention whichare differentially modified during or after translation, e.g., byglycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatizationby known protecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to anantibody molecule or other cellular ligand, etc. Any of numerouschemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, includingbut not limited, to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide,trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, NaBH₄; acetylation,formylation, oxidation, reduction; metabolic synthesis in the presenceof tunicamycin; etc.

Additional post-translational modifications encompassed by the inventioninclude, for example, e.g., N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains,processing of N-terminal or C-terminal ends), attachment of chemicalmoieties to the amino acid backbone, chemical modifications of N-linkedor O-linked carbohydrate chains, and addition or deletion of anN-terninal methionine residue as a result of procaryotic host cellexpression. The polypeptides may also be modified with a detectablelabel, such as an enzymatic, fluorescent, isotopic or affinity label toallow for detection and isolation of the protein.

Also provided by the invention are chemically modified derivatives ofthe polypeptides of the invention which may provide additionaladvantages such as increased solubility, stability and circulating timeof the polypeptide, or decreased imnunogenicity (see U.S. Pat. No.4,179,337). The chemical moieties for derivitization may be selectedfrom water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol, ethyleneglycol/propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose, dextran,polyvinyl alcohol and the like. The polypeptides may be modified atrandom positions within the molecule, or at predetermined positionswithin the molecule and may include one, two, three or more attachedchemical moieties.

The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branched orunbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight isbetween about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating thatin preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more,some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling andmanufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desiredtherapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired,the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, thedegree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of thepolyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog).

The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties) should beattached to the protein with consideration of effects on functional orantigenic domains of the protein. There are a number of attachmentmethods available to those skilled in the art, e.g., EP 0 401 384,herein incorporated by reference (coupling PEG to G-CSF), see also Maliket al., Exp. Hematol. 20:1028-1035 (1992) (reporting pegylation ofGM-CSF using tresyl chloride). For example, polyethylene glycol may becovalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, suchas, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to whichan activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acidresidues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and theN-terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group mayinclude aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminalamino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactivegroup for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecules. Preferred fortherapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachmentat the N-terminus or lysine group.

One may specifically desire proteins chemically modified at theN-terminus. Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the presentcomposition, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycolmolecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion ofpolyethylene glycol molecules to protein (polypeptide) molecules in thereaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and themethod of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein. Themethod of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i.e.,separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary)may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from apopulation of pegylated protein molecules. Selective proteins chemicallymodified at the N-terminus modification may be accomplished by reductivealkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types ofprimary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available forderivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reactionconditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at theN-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved.

The polypeptides of the invention may be in monomers or multimers (i.e.,dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers). Accordingly, thepresent invention relates to monomers and multimers of the polypeptidesof the invention, their preparation, and compositions (preferably,Therapeutics) containing them. In specific embodiments, the polypeptidesof the invention are monomers, dimers, trimers or tetramers. Inadditional embodiments, the multimers of the invention are at leastdimers, at least trimers, or at least tetramers.

Multimers encompassed by the invention may be homomers or heteromers. Asused herein, the term homomer, refers to a multimer containing onlypolypeptides corresponding to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y oran amino acid sequence encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complement of SEQID NO:X, and/or an amino acid sequence encoded by cDNA Plasmid:V(including fragments, variants, splice variants, and fusion proteins,corresponding to these as described herein). These homomers may containpolypeptides having identical or different amino acid sequences. In aspecific embodiment, a homomer of the invention is a multimer containingonly polypeptides having an identical amino acid sequence. In anotherspecific embodiment, a homomer of the invention is a multimer containingpolypeptides having different amino acid sequences. In specificembodiments, the multimer of the invention is a homodimer (e.g.,containing polypeptides having identical or different amino acidsequences) or a homotrimer (e.g., containing polypeptides havingidentical and/or different amino acid sequences). In additionalembodiments, the homomeric multimer of the invention is at least ahomodimer, at least a homotrimer, or at least a homotetramer.

As used herein, the term heteromer refers to a multimer containing oneor more heterologous polypeptides (i.e., polypeptides of differentproteins) in addition to the polypeptides of the invention. In aspecific embodiment, the multimer of the invention is a heterodimer, aheterotrimer, or a heterotetramer. In additional embodiments, theheteromeric multimer of the invention is at least a heterodimer, atleast a heterotrimer, or at least a heterotetramer.

Multimers of the invention may be the result of hydrophobic,hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent associations and/or may be indirectlylinked, by for example, liposome formation. Thus, in one embodiment,multimers of the invention, such as, for example, homodimers orhomotrimers, are formed when polypeptides of the invention contact oneanother in solution. In another embodiment, heteromultimers of theinvention, such as, for example, heterotrimers or heterotetramers, areformed when polypeptides of the invention contact antibodies to thepolypeptides of the invention (including antibodies to the heterologouspolypeptide sequence in a fusion protein of the invention) in solution.In other embodiments, multimers of the invention are formed by covalentassociations with and/or between the polypeptides of the invention. Suchcovalent associations may involve one or more amino acid residuescontained in the polypeptide sequence (e.g., that recited in SEQ IDNO:Y, or contained in a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X, and/or thecDNA plasmid:V). In one instance, the covalent associations arecross-linking between cysteine residues located within the polypeptidesequences which interact in the native (i.e., naturally occurring)polypeptide. In another instance, the covalent associations are theconsequence of chemical or recombinant manipulation. Alternatively, suchcovalent associations may involve one or more amino acid residuescontained in the heterologous polypeptide sequence in a fusion protein.In one example, covalent associations are between the heterologoussequence contained in a fusion protein of the invention (see, e.g., USPat. No. 5,478,925). In a specific example, the covalent associationsare between the heterologous sequence contained in a Fc fusion proteinof the invention (as described herein). In another specific example,covalent associations of fusion proteins of the invention are betweenheterologous polypeptide sequence from another protein that is capableof forming covalently associated multimers, such as for example,osteoprotegerin (see, e.g., International Publication NO: WO 98/49305,the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety). In another embodiment, two or more polypeptides of theinvention are joined through peptide linkers. Examples include thosepeptide linkers described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,627 (herebyincorporated by reference). Proteins comprising multiple polypeptides ofthe invention separated by peptide linkers may be produced usingconventional recombinant DNA technology.

Another method for preparing multimer polypeptides of the inventioninvolves use of polypeptides of the invention fused to a leucine zipperor isoleucine zipper polypeptide sequence. Leucine zipper and isoleucinezipper domains are polypeptides that promote multimerization of theproteins in which they are found. Leucine zippers were originallyidentified in several DNA-binding proteins (Landschulz et al., Science240:1759, (1988)), and have since been found in a variety of differentproteins. Among the known leucine zippers are naturally occurringpeptides and derivatives thereof that dimerize or trimerize. Examples ofleucine zipper domains suitable for producing soluble multimericproteins of the invention are those described in PCT application WO94/10308, hereby incorporated by reference. Recombinant fusion proteinscomprising a polypeptide of the invention fused to a polypeptidesequence that dimerizes or trimerizes in solution are expressed insuitable host cells, and the resulting soluble multimeric fusion proteinis recovered from the culture supernatant using techniques known in theart.

Trimeric polypeptides of the invention may offer the advantage ofenhanced biological activity. Preferred leucine zipper moieties andisoleucine moieties are those that preferentially form trimers. Oneexample is a leucine zipper derived from lung surfactant protein D(SPD), as described in Hoppe et al. (FEBS Letters 344:191, (1994)) andin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,922, hereby incorporated byreference. Other peptides derived from naturally occurring trimericproteins may be employed in preparing trimeric polypeptides of theinvention.

In another example, proteins of the invention are associated byinteractions between Flag® polypeptide sequence contained in fusionproteins of the invention containing Flag® polypeptide seuqence. In afurther embodiment, associations proteins of the invention areassociated by interactions between heterologous polypeptide sequencecontained in Flag® fusion proteins of the invention and anti-Flag®antibody.

The multimers of the invention may be generated using chemicaltechniques known in the art. For example, polypeptides desired to becontained in the multimers of the invention may be chemicallycross-linked using linker molecules and linker molecule lengthoptimization techniques known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).Additionally, multimers of the invention may be generated usingtechniques known in the art to form one or more inter-moleculecross-links between the cysteine residues located within the sequence ofthe polypeptides desired to be contained in the multimer (see, e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety). Further, polypeptides of the invention may be routinelymodified by the addition of cysteine or biotin to the C-terminus orN-terminus of the polypeptide and techniques known in the art may beapplied to generate multimers containing one or more of these modifiedpolypeptides (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety). Additionally, techniquesknown in the art may be applied to generate liposomes containing thepolypeptide components desired to be contained in the multimer of theinvention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety).

Alternatively, multimers of the invention may be generated using geneticengineering techniques known in the art. In one embodiment, polypeptidescontained in multimers of the invention are produced recombinantly usingfusion protein technology described herein or otherwise known in the art(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety). In a specific embodiment, polynucleotidescoding for a homodimer of the invention are generated by ligating apolynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention to asequence encoding a linker polypeptide and then further to a syntheticpolynucleotide encoding the translated product of the polypeptide in thereverse orientation from the original C-terminus to the N-terminus(lacking the leader sequence) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In anotherembodiment, recombinant techniques described herein or otherwise knownin the art are applied to generate recombinant polypeptides of theinvention which contain a transmembrane domain (or hyrophobic or signalpeptide) and which can be incorporated by membrane reconstitutiontechniques into liposomes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety).

Antibodies

Further polypeptides of the invention relate to antibodies and T-cellantigen receptors (TCR) which immunospecifically bind a polypeptide,polypeptide fragment, or variant of SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or an epitope, ofthe present invention (as determined by immunoassays well known in theart for assaying specific antibody-antigen binding). Antibodies of theinvention include, but are not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal,multispecific, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies, single chainantibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′) fragments, fragments produced by a Fabexpression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id) antibodies (including,e.g., anti-Id antibodies to antibodies of the invention), andepitope-binding fragments of any of the above. The term “antibody,” asused herein, refers to immunoglobulin molecules and immunologicallyactive portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e., molecules thatcontain an antigen binding site that immunospecifically binds anantigen. The immunoglobulin molecules of the invention. can be of anytype (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG1, IgG2,IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule.

Most preferably the antibodies are human antigen-binding antibodyfragments of the present invention and include, but are not limited to,Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs (scFv), single-chainantibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv) and fragments comprising eithera VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibody fragments, includingsingle-chain antibodies, may comprise the variable region(s) alone or incombination with the entirety or a portion of the following: hingeregion, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. Also included in the invention areantigen-binding fragments also comprising any combination of variableregion(s) with a hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. The antibodiesof the invention may be from any animal origin including birds andmammals. Preferably, the antibodies are human, murine (e.g., mouse andrat), donkey, ship rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, or chicken.As used herein, “human” antibodies include antibodies having the aminoacid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodies isolatedfrom human immunoglobulin libraries or from animals transgenic for oneor more human immunoglobulin and that do not express endogenousimmunoglobulins, as described infra and, for example in, U.S. Pat. No.5,939,598 by Kucherlapati et al.

The antibodies of the present invention may be monospecific, bispecific,trispecific or of greater multispecificity. Multispecific antibodies maybe specific for different epitopes of a polypeptide of the presentinvention or may be specific for both a polypeptide of the presentinvention as well as for a heterologous epitope, such as a heterologouspolypeptide or solid support material. See, erg., PCT publications WO93/17715; WO 92/08802; WO 91/00360; WO 92/05793; Tutt, et al., J.Immunol. 147:60-69 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,893; 4,714,681;4,925,648; 5,573,920; 5,601,819; Kostelny et al., J. Immunol.148:1547-1553 (1992).

Antibodies of the present invention may be described or specified interms of the epitope(s) or portion(s) of a polypeptide of the presentinvention which they recognize or specifically bind. The epitope(s) orpolypeptide portion(s) may be specified as described herein, e.g., byN-terminal and C-terminal positions, or by size in contiguous amino acidresidues. Antibodies which specifically bind any epitope or polypeptideof the present invention may also be excluded. Therefore, the presentinvention includes antibodies that specifically bind polypeptides of thepresent invention, and allows for the exclusion of the same.

Antibodies of the present invention may also be described or specifiedin terms of their cross-reactivity. Antibodies that do not bind anyother analog, ortholog, or homolog of a polypeptide of the presentinvention are included. Antibodies that bind polypeptides with at least95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, at least 55%, and at least 50% identity(as calculated using methods known in the art and described herein) to apolypeptide of the present invention are also included in the presentinvention. In specific embodiments, antibodies of the present inventioncross-react with murine, rat and/or rabbit homologs of human proteinsand the corresponding epitopes thereof. Antibodies that do not bindpolypeptides with less than 95%, less than 90%, less than 85%, less than80%, less than 75%, less than 70%, less than 65%, less than 60%, lessthan 55%, and less than 50% identity (as calculated using methods knownin the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of the presentinvention are also included in the present invention. In a specificembodiment, the above-described cross-reactivity is with respect to anysingle specific antigenic or immunogenic polypeptide, or combination(s)of 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the specific antigenic and/or immunogenicpolypeptides disclosed herein. Further included in the present inventionare antibodies which bind polypeptides encoded by polynucleotides whichhybridize to a polynucleotide of the present invention under stringenthybridization conditions (as described herein). Antibodies of thepresent invention may also be described or specified in terms of theirbinding affinity to a polypeptide of the invention. Preferred bindingaffinities include those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than5×10⁻² M, 10⁻² M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³ M, 5×10⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵ M, 10⁻⁵ M,5×10⁻⁶ M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁻⁷M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹M,5×10⁻ M, 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×11⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹²M, 10⁻¹² M, 5×10⁻¹³ M,10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M, 5×10⁻¹⁵ M, or 10⁻¹⁵ M.

The invention also provides antibodies that competitively inhibitbinding of an antibody to an epitope of the invention as determined byany method known in the art for determining competitive binding, forexample, the immunoassays described herein. In preferred embodiments,the antibody competitively inhibits binding to the epitope by at least95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.

Antibodies of the present invention may act as agonists or antagonistsof the polypeptides of the present invention. For example, the presentinvention includes antibodies which disrupt the receptor/ligandinteractions with the polypeptides of the invention either partially orfully. Preferrably, antibodies of the present invention bind anantigenic epitope disclosed herein, or a portion thereof. The inventionfeatures both receptor-specific antibodies and ligand-specificantibodies. The invention also features receptor-specific antibodieswhich do not prevent ligand binding but prevent receptor activation.Receptor activation (i.e., signaling) may be determined by techniquesdescribed herein or otherwise known in the art. For example, receptoractivation can be determined by detecting the phosphorylation (e.g.,tyrosine or serine/threonine) of the receptor or its substrate byimmunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis (for example, asdescribed supra). In specific embodirnents, antibodies are provided thatinhibit ligand activity or receptor activity by at least 95%, at least90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least 70%, at least60%, or at least 50% of the activity in absence of the antibody.

The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies which bothprevent ligand binding and receptor activation as well as antibodiesthat recognize the receptor-ligand complex, and, preferably, do notspecifically recognize the unbound receptor or the unbound ligand.Likewise, included in the invention are neutralizing antibodies whichbind the ligand and prevent binding of the ligand to the receptor, aswell as antibodies which bind the ligand, thereby preventing receptoractivation, but do not prevent the ligand from binding the receptor.Further included in the invention are antibodies which activate thereceptor. These antibodies may act as receptor agonists, i.e.,potentiate or activate either all or a subset of the biologicalactivities of the ligand-mediated receptor activation, for example, byinducing dimerization of the receptor. The antibodies may be specifiedas agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for biological activitiescomprising the specific biological activities of the peptides of theinvention disclosed herein. The above antibody agonists can be madeusing methods known in the art. See, e.g., PCT publication WO 96/40281;U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,097; Deng et al., Blood 92(6):1981-1988 (1998); Chenet al., Cancer Res. 58(16):3668-3678 (1998); Harrop et al., J. Immunol.161(4):1786-1794 (1998); Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214(1998); Yoon et a., J. Immunol. 160(7):3170-3179 (1998); Prat et al., J.Cell. Sci. III(Pt2):237-247 (1998); Pitard et al., J. lmimunol. Methods205(2):177-190 (1997); Liautard et al., Cytokine 9(4):233-241 (1997);Carlson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272(17):11295-11301 (1997); Taryman etal., Neuron 14(4):755-762 (1995); Muller et al., Structure6(9):1153-1167 (1998); Bartunek et al., Cytokine 8(1):14-20 (1996)(which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties).

Antibodies of the present invention may be used, for example, but notlimited to, to purify, detect, and target the polypeptides of thepresent invention, including both in vitro and in vivo diagnostic andtherapeutic methods. Four example, the antibodies have use inimmunoassays for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring levels ofthe polypeptides of the present invention in biological samples. See,e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988) (incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety).

As discussed in more detail below, the antibodies of the presentinvention may be used either alone or in combination with othercompositions. The antibodies may further be recombinantly fused to aheterologous polypeptide at the N- or C-terminus or chemicallyconjugated (including covalently and non-covalently conjugations) topolypeptides or other compositions. For example, antibodies of thepresent invention may be recombinantly fused or conjugated to moleculesuseful as labels in detection assays and effector molecules such asheterologous polypeptides, drugs, radionuclides, or toxins. See, e.g.,PCT publications WO 92/08495; WO 91/14438; WO 89/12624; U.S. Pat. No.5,314,995; and EP 396,387.

The antibodies of the invention include derivatives that are modified,i.e, by the covalent attachment of any type of molecule to the antibodysuch that covalent attachment does not prevent the antibody fromgenerating an anti-idiotypic response. For example, but not by way oflimitation, the antibody derivatives include antibodies that have beenmodified, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation,phosphylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blockinggroups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to a cellular ligand or otherprotein, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried outby known techniques, including, but not limited to specific chemicalcleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin,etc. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non-classicalamino acids.

The antibodies of the present invention may be generated by any suitablemethod known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies to an antigen of interestcan be produced by various procedures well known in the art. Forexample, a polypeptide of the invention can be administered to varioushost animals including, but not limited to, rabbits, mice, rats, etc. toinduce the production of sera containing polyclonal antibodies specificfor the antigen. Various adjuvants may be used to increase theimmunological response, depending on the host species, and include butare not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete), mineral gelssuch as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances such aslysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions,keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful humanadjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacteriumparvum. Such adjuvants are also well known in the art.

Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using a wide variety of techniquesknown in the art including the use of hybridoma, recombinant, and phagedisplay technologies, or a combination thereof. For example, monoclonalantibodies can be produced using hybridoma techniques including thoseknown in the art and taught, for example, in Harlow et al., Antibodies:A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed.1988); Hammerling, et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-CellHybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said references incorporatedby reference in their entireties). The term “monoclonal antibody” asused herein is not limited to antibodies produced through hybridomatechnology. The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to an antibody that isderived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic, prokaryotic, orphage clone, and not the method by which it is produced.

Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies usinghybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art and arediscussed in detail in the Examples. In a non-limiting example, mice canbe immunized with a polypeptide of the invention or a cell expressingsuch peptide. Once an immune response is detected, e.g., antibodiesspecific for the antigen are detected in the mouse serum, the mousespleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. The splenocytes are thenfused by well known techniques to any suitable myeloma cells, forexample cells from cell line SP20 available from the ATCC. Hybridomasare selected and cloned by limited dilution. The hybridoma clones arethen assayed by methods known in the art for cells that secreteantibodies capable of binding a polypeptide of the invention. Ascitesfluid, which generally contains high levels of antibodies, can begenerated by immunizing mice with positive hybridoma clones.

Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of generatingmonoclonal antibodies as well as antibodies produced by the methodcomprising culturing a hybridoma cell secreting an antibody of theinvention wherein, preferably, the hybridoma is generated by fusingsplenocytes isolated from a mouse immunized with an antigen of theinvention with myeloma cells and then screening the hybridomas resultingfrom the fusion for hybridoma clones that secrete an antibody able tobind a polypeptide of the invention.

Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may be generated byknown techniques. For example, Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of theinvention may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of immunoglobulinmolecules, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) orpepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). F(ab′)2 fragments contain thevariable region, the light chain constant region and the CH1 domain ofthe heavy chain. For example, the antibodies of the present inventioncan also be generated using various phage display methods known in theart. In phage display methods, functional antibody domains are displayedon the surface of phage particles which carry the polynucleotidesequences encoding them. In a particular embodiment, such phage can beutilized to display antigen binding domains expressed from a repertoireor combinatorial antibody library (e.g., human or murine). Phageexpressing an antigen binding domain that binds the antigen of interestcan be selected or identified with antigen, e.g., using labeled antigenor antigen bound or captured to a solid surface or bead. Phage used inthese methods are typically filamentous phage including fd and M13binding domains expressed from phage with Fab, Fv or disulfidestabilized Fv antibody domains recombinantly fused to either the phagegene III or gene VIII protein. Examples of phage display methods thatcan be used to make the antibodies of the present invention includethose disclosed in Brinkman et al., J. Immunol. Methods 182:41-50(1995); Ames et al., J. Immunol. Methods 184:177-186 (1995);Kettleborough et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:952-958 (1994); Persic et al.,Gene 187 9-18 (1997); Burton et al., Advances in Imnunology, 57:191-280(1994); PCT application No. PCT/GB91/01134; PCT publications WO90/02809; WO 91/10737; WO 92/01047; WO 92/18619; WO 93/11236; WO95/15982; WO 95/20401; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,426; 5,223,409;5,403,484; 5,580,717; 5,427,908; 5,750,753; 5,821,047; 5,571,698;5,427,908; 5,516,637; 5,780,225; 5,658,727; 5,733,743 and 5,969,108;each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As described in the above references, after phage selection, theantibody coding regions from the phage can be isolated and used togenerate whole antibodies, including human antibodies, or any otherdesired antigen binding fragment, and expressed in any desired host,including mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast, andbacteria, e.g., as described in detail below. For example, techniques torecombinantly produce Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments can also beemployed using methods known in the art such as those disclosed in PCTpublication WO 92/22324; Mullinax et al., BioTechniques 12(6):864-869(1992); and Sawai et al., AJRI 34:26-34 (1995); and Better et al.,Science 240:1041-1043 (1988) (said references incorporated by referencein their entireties).

Examples of techniques which can be used to produce single-chain Fvs andantibodies include those described in U.S. Pat. 4,946,778 and 5,258,498;Huston et al., Methods in Enzymology 203:46-88 (1991); Shu et al., PNAS90:7995-7999 (1993); and Skerra et al., Science 240:1038-1040 (1988).For some uses, including in vivo use of antibodies in humans and invitro detection assays, it may be preferable to use chimeric, humanized,or human antibodies. A chimeric antibody is a molecule in whichdifferent portions of the antibody are derived from different animalspecies, such as antibodies having a variable region derived from amurine monoclonal antibody and a human immunoglobulin constant region.Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known in the art. Seee.g., Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214(1986); Gillies et al., (1989) J. Immunol. Methods 125:191-202; U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,807,715; 4,816,567; and 4,816,397, which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety. Humanized antibodies are antibodymolecules from non-human species antibody that binds the desired antigenhaving one or more complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from thenon-human species and a framework regions from a human. immunoglobulinmolecule. Often, framework residues in the human framework regions willbe substituted with the corresponding residue from the CDR donorantibody to alter, preferably improve, antigen binding. These frameworksubstitutions are identified by methods well known in the art, e.g., bymodeling of the interactions of the CDR and framework residues toidentify framework residues important for antigen binding and sequencecomparison to identify unusual framework residues at particularpositions. (See, e.g., Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,089; Riechmannet al., Nature 332:323 (1988), which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.) Antibodies can be humanized using avariety of techniques known in the art including, for example,CDR-grafting (EP 239,400; PCT publication WO 91/09967; U.S. Pat. Nos.5,225,539; 5,530,101; and 5,585,089), veneering or resurfacing (EP592,106; EP 519,596; Padlan, Molecular Immunology 28(4/5):489-498(1991); Studnicka et al., Protein Engineering 7(6):805-814 (1994);Roguska. et al., PNAS 91:969-973 (1994)), and chain shuffling (U.S. Pat.No. 5,565,332).

Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable for therapeutictreatment of human patients. Human antibodies can be made by a varietyof methods known in the art including phage display methods describedabove using antibody libraries derived from human immunoglobulinsequences. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and 4,716,111; and PCTpublications WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893, WO 98/16654, WO96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

Human antibodies can also be produced using transgenic mice which areincapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, but whichcan express human immunoglobulin genes. For example, the human heavy andlight chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introduced randomly orby homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells.Alternatively, the human variable region, constant region, and diversityregion may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition tothe human heavy and light chain genes. The mouse heavy and light chainimmunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately orsimultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci byhomologous recombination. In particular, homozygous deletion of the JHregion prevents endogenous antibody production. The modified embryonicstem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts to producechimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then bred to produce homozygousoffspring which express human antibodies. The transgenic mice areimmunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., all or aportion of a polypeptide of the invention. Monoclonal antibodiesdirected against the antigen can be obtained from the immunized,transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology. The humanimmunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrangeduring B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switchingand somatic mutation. Thus, using such a technique, it is possible toproduce therapeutically useful IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies. For anoverview of this technology for producing human antibodies, see Lonbergand Huszar, Int. Rev. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995). For a detaileddiscussion of this technology for producing human antibodies and humanmonoclonal antibodies and protocols for producing such antibodies, see,e.g., PCT publications WO 98/24893; WO 92/01047; WO 96/34096; WO96/33735; European Patent No. 0 598 877; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,923;5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,569,825; 5,661,016; 5,545,806; 5,814,318;5,885,793; 5,916,771; and 5,939,598, which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety. In addition, companies such as Abgenix, Inc.(Freemont, Calif.) and Genpharm (San Jose, Calif.) can be engaged toprovide human antibodies directed against a selected antigen usingtechnology similar to that described above.

Completely human antibodies which recognize a selected epitope can begenerated using a technique referred to as “guided selection.” In thisapproach a selected non-human monoclonal antibody, e.g., a mouseantibody, is used to guide the selection of a completely human antibodyrecognizing the same epitope. (Jespers et al., Bio/technology 12:899-903(1988)).

Further, antibodies to the polypeptides of the invention can, in turn,be utilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic”polypeptides of the invention using techniques well known to thoseskilled in the art. (See, e.g., Greenspan & Bona, FASEB J. 7(5):437-444;(1989) and Nissinoff, J. Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438 (1991)). For example,antibodies which bind to and competitively inhibit polypeptidemultimerization and/or binding of a polypeptide of the invention to aligand can be used to generate anti-idiotypes that “mimic” thepolypeptide multimerization and/or binding domain and, as a consequence,bind to and neutralize polypeptide and/or its ligand. Such neutralizinganti-idiotypes or Fab fragments of such anti-idiotypes can be used intherapeutic regimens to neutralize polypeptide ligand. For example, suchanti-idiotypic antibodies can be used to bind a polypeptide of theinvention and/or to bind its ligands receptors, and thereby block itsbiological activity.

Polynucleotides Encoding Antibodies

The invention further provides polynucleotides comprising a nucleotidesequence encoding an antibody of the invention and fragments thereof.The invention also encompasses polynucleotides that hybridize understringent or alternatively, under lower stringency hybridizationconditions, e.g., as defined supra, to polynucleotides that encode anantibody, preferably, that specifically binds to a polypeptide of theinvention, preferably, an antibody that binds to a polypeptide havingthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

The polynucleotides may be obtained, and the nucleotide sequence of thepolynucleotides determined, by any method known in the art. For example,if the nucleotide sequence of the antibody is known, a polynucleotideencoding the antibody may be assembled from chemically synthesizedoligonucleotides (e.g., as described in Kutmeier et al., BioTechniques17:242 (1994)), which, briefly, involves the synthesis of overlappingoligonucleotides containing portions of the sequence encoding theantibody, annealing and ligating of those oligonucleotides, and thenamplification of the ligated oligonucleotides by PCR.

Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding an antibody may be generatedfrom nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clone containing anucleic acid encoding a particular antibody is not available, but thesequence of the antibody molecule is known, a nucleic acid encoding theimmunoglobulin may be chemically synthesized or obtained from a suitablesource (e.g., an antibody cDNA library, or a cDNA library generatedfrom, or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+ RNA, isolated from, any tissueor cells expressing the antibody, such as hybridoma cells selected toexpress an antibody of the invention) by PCR amplification usingsynthetic primers hybridizable to the 3′ and 5′ ends of the sequence orby cloning using an oligonucleotide probe specific for the particulargene sequence to identify, e.g., a cDNA clone from a cDNA library thatencodes the antibody. Amplified nucleic acids generated by PCR may thenbe cloned into replicable cloning vectors using any method well known inthe art.

Once the nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence ofthe antibody is, determined, the nucleotide sequence of the antibody maybe manipulated using methods well known in the art for the manipulationof nucleotide sequences, e.g., recombinant DNA techniques, site directedmutagenesis, PCR, etc. (see, for example, the techniques described inSambrook et al., 1990, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d Ed.,Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. and Ausubel etal., eds., 1998, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley &Sons, NY, which are both incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties ), to generate antibodies having a different amino acidsequence, for example to create amino acid substitutions, deletions,and/or insertions.

In a specific embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the heavy and/orlight chain variable domains may be inspected to identify the sequencesof the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) by methods that arewell know in the art, e.g., by comparison to known amino acid sequencesof other heavy and light chain variable regions to determine the regionsof sequence hypervariability. Using routine recombinant DNA techniques,one or more of the CDRs may be inserted within framework regions, e.g.,into human framework regions to humanize a non-human antibody, asdescribed supra. The framework regions may be naturally occurring orconsensus framework regions, and preferably human framework regions(see, e.g., Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 278: 457-479 (1998) for alisting of human framework regions). Preferably, the polynucleotidegenerated by the combination of the framework regions and CDRs encodesan antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide of the invention.Preferably, as discussed supra, one or more amino acid substitutions maybe made within the framework regions, and, preferably, the amino acidsubstitutions improve binding of the antibody to its antigen.Additionally, such methods may be used to make amino acid substitutionsor deletions of one or more variable region cysteine residuesparticipating in an intrachain disulfide bond to generate antibodymolecules lacking one or more intrachain disulfide bonds. Otheralterations to the polynucleotide are encompassed by the presentinvention and within the skill of the art.

In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimericantibodies” (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81:851-855 (1984);Neuberger et al., Nature 312:604-608 (1984); Takeda et al., Nature314:452-454 (1985)) by splicing genes from a mouse antibody molecule ofappropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a humanantibody molecule of appropriate biological. activity can be used. Asdescribed supra, a chimeric antibody is a molecule in which differentportions are derived from different animal species, such as those havinga variable region derived from a murine mAb and a human immunoglobulinconstant region, e.g., humanized antibodies.

Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chainantibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, Science 242:423-42 (1988);Huston et al., Prod. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988); and Wardet al., Nature 334:544-54 (1989)) can be adapted to produce single chainantibodies. Single chain antibodies are formed by linking the heavy andlight chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acid bridge,resulting in a single chain polypeptide. Techniques for the assembly offunctional Fv fragments in E. coli may also be used (Skerra et al.,Science 242:1038-1041 (1988)).

Methods of Producing Antibodies

The antibodies of the invention can be produced by any method known inthe art for the synthesis of antibodies, in particular, by chemicalsynthesis or preferably, by recombinant expression techniques.

Recombinant expression of an antibody of the invention, or fragment,derivative or analog thereof, (e.g., a heavy or light chain of anantibody of the invention or a single chain antibody of the invention),requires construction of an expression vector containing apolynucleotide that encodes the antibody. Once a polynucleotide encodingan antibody molecule or a heavy or light chain of an antibody, orportion thereof (preferably containing the heavy or light chain variabledomain), of the invention has been obtained, the vector for theproduction of the antibody molecule may be produced by recombinant DNAtechnology using techniques well known in the art. Thus, methods forpreparing a protein by expressing a polynucleotide containing anantibody encoding nucleotide sequence are described herein. Methodswhich are well known to those skilled in the art can be used toconstruct expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences andappropriate transcriptional and translational control signals. Thesemethods include, for example, in vitro recombinant DNA techniques,synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. The invention,thus, provides replicable vectors comprising a nucleotide sequenceencoding an antibody molecule of the invention, or a heavy or lightchain thereof, or a heavy or light chain variable domain, operablylinked to a promoter. Such vectors may include the nucleotide sequenceencoding the constant region of the antibody molecule (see, e.g., PCTPublication WO 86/05807; PCT Publication WO 89/01036; and U.S. Pat.No.5,122,464) and the variable domain of the antibody may be cloned intosuch a vector for expression of the entire heavy or light chain.

The expression vector is transferred to a host cell by conventionaltechniques and the transfected cells are then cultured by conventionaltechniques to produce an antibody of the invention. Thus, the inventionincludes host cells containing a polynucleotide encoding an antibody ofthe invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or a single chainantibody of the invention, operably linked to a heterologous promoter.In preferred embodiments for the expression of double-chainedantibodies, vectors encoding both the heavy and light chains may beco-expressed in the host cell for expression of the entireimmunoglobulin molecule, as detailed below.

A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized to expressthe antibody molecules of the invention. Such host-expression systemsrepresent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest may beproduced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells which may,when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotide codingsequences, express an antibody molecule of the invention in situ. Theseinclude but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria (e.g., E.coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA,plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing antibody codingsequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed withrecombinant yeast expression vectors containing antibody codingsequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virusexpression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing antibody codingsequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expressionvectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus,TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g.,Ti plasmid) containing antibody coding sequences; or mammalian cellsystems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3 cells) harboring recombinantexpression constructs containing, promoters derived from the genome ofmammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalianviruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5K.promoter). Preferably, bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, andmore preferably, eukaryotic cells, especially for the expression ofwhole recombinant antibody molecule, are used for the expression of arecombinant antibody molecule. For example, mammalian cells such asChinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), in conjunction with a vector such asthe major intermediate early gene promoter element from humancytomegalovirus is an effective expression system for antibodies(Foecking et al., Gene 45:101 (1986); Cockett et al., Biotechnology 8:2(1990)).

In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may beadvantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the antibodymolecule being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such aprotein is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceuticalcompositions of an antibody molecule, vectors which direct theexpression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readilypurified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited, tothe E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., EMBO J. 2:1791(1983)), in which the antibody coding sequence may be ligatedindividually into the vector in frame with the lac Z coding region sothat a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, NucleicAcids Res. 13:3101-3109 (1985); Van Heeke & Schuster, J. Biol. Chem.24:5503-5509 (1989)); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used toexpress foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathioneS-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble andcan easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption and binding tomatrix glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence offree glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin orfactor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene productcan be released from the GST moiety.

In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis, virus(AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virus grows inSpodoptera frugiperda cells. The antibody coding sequence may be clonedindividually into non-essential regions (for example the polyhedringene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPV promoter (forexample the polyhedrin promoter).

In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expression systems maybe utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as an expressionvector, the antibody coding sequence of interest may be ligated to anadenovirus transcription/translation control complex, e.g., the latepromoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimeric gene may then beinserted in the adenovirus genomeby in vitro or in vivo recombination.Insertion in a non-essential region of the viral genome (e.g., region E1or E3) will result in a recombinant virus that is viable and capable ofexpressing the antibody molecule in infected hosts. (e.g., see Logan &Shenk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:355-359 (1984)). Specificinitiation signals may also be required for efficient translation ofinserted antibody coding sequences. These signals include the ATGinitiation codon and adjacent sequences. Furthermore, the initiationcodon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desired codingsequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. These exogenoustranslational control signals and initiation codons can be of a varietyof origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression maybe enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcription enhancerelements, transcription terminators, etc. (see Bittner et al., Methodsin Enzymol. 153:51-544 (1987)).

In addition, a host cell strain maybe chosen which modulates theexpression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the geneproduct in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g.,glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products maybe important for the function of the protein. Different host cells havecharacteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translationalprocessing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriatecell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correctmodification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To thisend, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery forproper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, andphosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian hostcells include but are not limited to CHO, VERY, BHK, Hela, COS, MDCK,293, 3T3, WI38, and in particular, breast cancer cell lines such as, forexample, BT483, Hs578T, HTB2, BT20 and T47D, and normal mammary glandcell line such as, for example, CRL7030 and Hs578Bst.

For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins, stableexpression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stably expressthe antibody molecule may be engineered. Rather than using expressionvectors which contain viral origins of replication, host cells can betransformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expression controlelements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcriptionterminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker.Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells may beallowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switchedto a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmidconfers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integratethe plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turncan be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This. method mayadvantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the antibodymolecule. Such engineered cell lines may be particularly useful inscreening and evaluation of compounds that interact directly orindirectly with the antibody molecule.

A number of selection systems may be used, including but not limited tothe herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., Cell 11:223(1977)), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Szybalska &Szybalski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:202 (1992)), and adeninephosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., Cell 22:817 (1980)) genes can beemployed in tk-, hgprt- or aprt- cells, respectively. Also,antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for thefollowing genes: dhfr which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigleret al., Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:357 (1980); O'Hare et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527 (1981)); gpt, which confers resistance tomycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072(1981)); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505; Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 3:87-95 (1991);Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993); Mulligan,Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev. Biochem.62:191-217 (1993); May, 1993, TIB TECH 11(5):155-215); and hygro, whichconfers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre et al., Gene 30:147 (1984)).Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology may beroutinely applied to select the desired recombinant clone, and suchmethods are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (eds.), CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); Kriegler,Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY(1990); and in Chapters 12 and 13, Dracopoli et al. (eds), CurrentProtocols in Human Genetics, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1994);Colberre-Garapin et al., J. Mol. Biol. 150:1 (1981), which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The expression levels of an antibody molecule can be increased by vectoramplification (for a review, see Bebbington and Hentschel, The use ofvectors based on gene amplification for the expression of cloned genesin mammalian cells in DNA cloning, Vol.3. (Academic Press, New York,1987)). When a marker in the vector system expressing antibody isamplifiable, increase in the level of inhibitor present in culture ofhost cell will increase the number of copies of the marker gene. Sincethe amplified region is associated with the antibody gene, production ofthe antibody will also increase (Crouse et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:257(1983)).

The host cell may be co-transfected with two expression vectors of theinvention, the first vector encoding a heavy chain derived polypeptideand the second vector encoding a light chain derived polypeptide. Thetwo vectors may contain identical selectable markers which enable equalexpression of heavy and light chain polypeptides. Alternatively, asingle vector may be used which encodes, and is capable of expressing,both heavy and light chain polypeptides. In such situations, the lightchain should be placed before the heavy chain to avoid an excess oftoxic free heavy chain (Proudfoot, Nature 322:52 (1986); Kohler, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:2197 (1980)). The coding sequences for the heavyand light chains may comprise cDNA or genomic DNA.

Once an antibody molecule of the invention has been produced by ananimal, chemically synthesized, or recombinantly expressed, it may bepurified by any method known in the art for purification of animmunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ionexchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigenafter Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation,differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for thepurification of proteins. In addition, the antibodies of the presentinvention or fragments thereof can be fused to heterologous polypeptidesequences described herein or otherwise known in the art, to facilitatepurification.

The present invention encompasses antibodies recombinantly fused orchemically conjugated (including both covalently and non-covalentlyconjugations) to a polypeptide (or portion thereof, preferably at least10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of thepolypeptide) of the present invention to generate fusion proteins. Thefusion does not necessarily need to be direct, but may occur throughlinker sequences. The antibodies may be specific for antigens other thanpolypeptides (or portion thereof, preferably at least 10, 20, 30, 40,50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of the polypeptide) of the presentinvention. For example, antibodies may be used to target thepolypeptides of the present invention to particular cell types, eitherin vitro or in vivo, by fusing or conjugating the polypeptides of thepresent invention to antibodies specific for particular cell surfacereceptors. Antibodies fused or conjugated to the polypeptides of thepresent invention may also be used in in vitro immunoassays andpurification methods using methods known in the art. See e.g., Harbor etal., supra, and PCT publication WO 93/21232; EP 439,095; Naramura etal., Immunol. Lett. 39:91-99 (1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,981; Gillies etal., PNAS 89:1428-1432 (1992); Fell et al., J. Immunol.146:2446-2452(1991), which are incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

The present invention further includes compositions comprising thepolypeptides of the present invention fused or conjugated to antibodydomains other than the variable regions. For example, the polypeptidesof the present invention may be fused or conjugated to an antibody Fcregion, or portion thereof. The antibody portion fused to a polypeptideof the present invention may comprise the constant region, hinge region,CH1 domain, CH2 domain, and CH3 domain or any combination of wholedomains or portions thereof. The polypeptides may also be fused orconjugated to the above antibody portions to form multimers. Forexample, Fc portions fused to the polypeptides of the present inventioncan form dimers through disulfide bonding between the Fc portions.Higher multimeric forms can be made by fusing the polypeptides toportions of IgA and IgM. Methods for fusing or conjugating thepplypeptides of the present invention to antibody portions are known inthe art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,336,603; 5,622,929; 5,359,046;5,349,053; 5,447,851; 5,112,946; EP 307,434; EP 367,166; PCTpublications WO 96/04388; WO 91/06570; Ashkenazi et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 88:10535-10539 (1991); Zheng et al., J. Immunol.154:5590-5600 (1995); and Vil et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA89:11337-11341(1992) (said references incorporated by reference in theirentireties).

As discussed, supra, the polypeptides corresponding to a polypeptide,polypeptide fragment, or a variant of SEQ IID NO:Y may be fused orconjugated to the above antibody portions to increase the in vivo halflife of the polypeptides or for use in immunoassays using methods knownin the art. Further, the polypeptides corresponding to SEQ ID NO:Y maybe fused or conjugated to the above antibody portions to facilitatepurification. One reported example describes chimeric proteinsconsisting of the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide andvarious domains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains ofmammalian immunoglobulins. (EP 394,827; Traunecker et al., Nature331:84-86 (1988). The polypeptides of the present invention fused orconjugated to an antibody having disulfide-linked dimeric structures(due to the IgG) may also be more efficient in binding and neutralizingother molecules, than the monomeric secreted protein or protein fragmentalone. (Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964 (1995)). In manycases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial in therapy anddiagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improved pharmacokineticproperties. (EP A 232,262). Alternatively, deleting the Fc part afterthe fusion protein has been expressed, detected, and purified, would bedesired. For example, the Fc portion may hinder therapy and diagnosis ifthe fusion protein is used as an antigen for immunizations. In drugdiscovery, for example, human proteins, such as hIL-5, have been fusedwith Fc portions for the purpose of high-throughput screening assays toidentify antagonists of hIL-5. (See, Bennett et al., J. MolecularRecognition 8:52-58 (1995); Johanson et al., J. Biol. Chem.270:9459-9471 (1995).

Moreover, the antibodies or fragments thereof of the present inventioncan be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide to facilitatepurification. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acid sequenceis a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQE vector(QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311), amongothers, many of which are commercially available. As described in Gentzet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), for instance,hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of the fusionprotein. Other peptide tags useful for purification include, but are notlimited to, the “HA” tag, which corresponds to an epitope derived fromthe influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984))and the “flag” tag.

The present invention further encompasses antibodies or fragmentsthereof conjugated to a diagnostic or therapeutic agent. The antibodiescan be used diagnostically to, for example, monitor the development orprogression of a tumor as part of a clinical testing procedure to, e.g.,determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can befacilitated by coupling the antibody to a detectable substance. Examplesof detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups,fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials,radioactive materials, positron emitting metals using various positronemission tomographies, and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. Thedetectable substance may be coupled or conjugated either directly to theantibody (or fragment thereof) or indirectly, through an intermediate(such as, for example, a linker known in the art) using techniques knownin the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 for metal ionswhich can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics accordingto the present invention. Examples of suitable enzymes includehorseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, oracetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexesinclude streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitablefluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluoresceinisothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansylchloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includesluminol; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase,luciferin, and aequorin; and examples of suitable radioactive materialinclude 125I, 131I, 111In or 99Tc.

Further, an antibody or fragment thereof may be conjugated to atherapeutic moiety such as a cytotoxin, e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidalagent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g.,alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213Bi. A cytotoxin or cytotoxicagent includes any agent that is detrimental to cells. Examples includepaclitaxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine,mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin,doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone,mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids,procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogsor homologs thereof. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to,antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine,cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g.,mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) andlomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol,streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP)cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) anddoxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin),bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents(e.g., vincristine and vinblastine).

The conjugates of the invention can be used for modifying a givenbiological response, the therapeutic agent or drug moiety is not to beconstrued as limited to classical chemical therapeutic agents. Forexample, the drug moiety may be a protein or polypeptide possessing adesired biological activity. Such proteins may include, for example, atoxin such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria toxin;a protein such as tumor necrosis factor, a-interferon, β-interferon,nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, tissue plasminogenactivator, an apoptotic agent, e.g., TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, AIM I (See,International Publication No. WO 97/33899), AIM II (See, InternationalPublication No. WO 97/34911), Fas Ligand (Takahashi et al., Int.Immunol., 6:1567-1574 (1994)), VEGI (See, International Publication No.WO 99/23105), a thrombotic agent or an anti-angiogenic agent, e.g.,angiostatin or endostatin; or, biological response modifiers such as,for example, lymphokines, interleukin-1 (“IL 1”), interleukin-2(“IL-2”), interleukin-6 (“IL-6”), granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating factor (“GM-CSF”), granulocyte colony stimulating factor(“G-CSF”), or other growth factors.

Antibodies may also be attached to solid supports, which areparticularly useful for inmmunoassays or purification of the targetantigen. Such solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass,cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride orpolypropylene.

Techniques for conjugating such therapeutic moiety to antibodies arewell known, see, e.g., Arnon et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies ForImmunotargeting Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal AntibodiesAnd Cancer Therapy, Reisfeld et al. (eds.), pp. 243-56 (Alan R. Liss,Inc. 1985); Hellstrom et al., “Antibodies For Drug Delivery”, inControlled Drug Delivery (2nd Ed.), Robinson et al. (eds.), pp. 623-53(Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1987); Thorpe, “Antibody Carriers Of CytotoxicAgents In Cancer Therapy: A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies '84:Biological And Clinical Applications, Pinchera et al. (eds.), pp.475-506 (1985); “Analysis, Results, And Future Prospective Of TheTherapeutic Use Of Radiolabeled Antibody In Cancer Therapy”, inMonoclonal Antibodies For Cancer Detection And Therapy, Baldwin et al.(eds.), pp. 303-16 (Academic Press 1985), and Thorpe et al., “ThePreparation And Cytotoxic Properties Of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates”,Immunol. Rev. 62:119-58 (1982).

Alternatively, an antibody can be conjugated to a second antibody toform an antibody heteroconjugate as described by Segal in U.S. Pat. No.4,676,980, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

An antibody, with or without a therapeutic moiety conjugated to it,administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic factor(s) and/orcytokine(s) can be used as a therapeutic.

Immunophenotyping

The antibodies of the invention may be utilized for immunophenotyping ofcell lines and biological samples. The translation product of the geneof the present invention may be useful as a cell specific marker, ormore specifically as a cellular marker that is differentially expressedat various stages of differentiation and/or maturation of particularcell types. Monoclonal antibodies directed against a specific epitope,or combination of epitopes, will allow for the screening of cellularpopulations expressing the marker. Various techniques can be utilizedusing monoclonal antibodies to screen for cellular populationsexpressing the marker(s), and include magnetic separation usingantibody-coated magnetic beads, “panning” with antibody attached to asolid matrix (i.e., plate), and flow cytometry (See, e.g., U.S. Pat.5,985,660; and Morrison et al., Cell, 96:737-49 (1999)).

These techniques allow forthescreening of particular populations ofcells, such as might be found with hematological malignancies (i.e.minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemic patients) and“non-self” cells in transplantations to prevent Graft-versus-HostDisease (GVHD). Alternatively, these techniques allow for the screeningof hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells capable of undergoingproliferation and/or differentiation, as might be found in humanumbilical cord blood.

Assays For Antibody Binding

The antibodies of the invention may be assayed for immunospecificbinding by any method known in the art. The immunoassays which can beused include but are not limited to competitive and non-competitiveassay systems using techniques such as western blots, radioimmunoassays,ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays,immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusionprecipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays,complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescentimmunoassays, protein A immunoassays, to name but a few. Such assays areroutine and well known in the art (see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,New York, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).Exemplary immunoassays are described briefly below (but are not intendedby way of limitation).

Immunoprecipitation protocols generally comprise lysing a population ofcells in a lysis buffer such as RIPA buffer (1% NP-40 or Triton X- 100,1% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 M sodium phosphateat pH 7.2, 1% Trasylol) supplemented with protein phosphatase and/orprotease inhibitors (e.g., EDTA, PMSF, aprotinin, sodium vanadate),adding the antibody of interest to the cell lysate, incubating for aperiod of time (e.g., 1-4 hours) at 4° C., adding protein A and/orprotein G sepharose beads to the cell lysate, incubating for about anhour or more at 4° C., washing the beads in lysis buffer andresuspending the beads in SDS/sample buffer. The ability of the antibodyof interest to immunoprecipitate a particular antigen can be assessedby, e.g., western blot analysis. One of skill in the art would beknowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modified to increase thebinding of the antibody to an antigen and decrease the background (e.g.,pre-clearing the cell lysate with sepharose beads). For furtherdiscussion regarding immunoprecipitation protocols see, e.g., Ausubel etal, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, JohnWiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.16.1.

Western blot analysis generally comprises preparing protein samples,electrophoresis of the protein samples in a polyacrylamide gel (e.g.,8%-20% SDS-PAGE depending on the molecular weight of the antigen),transferring the protein sample from the polyacrylamide gel to amembrane such as nitrocellulose, PVDF or nylon, blocking the membrane inblocking solution (e.g., PBS with 3% BSA or non-fat milk), washing themembrane in washing buffer (e.g., PBS-Tween 20), blocking the membranewith primary antibody (the antibody of interest) diluted in blockingbuffer, washing the membrane in washing buffer, blocking the membranewith a secondary antibody (which recognizes the primary antibody, e.g.,an anti-human antibody) conjugated to an enzymatic substrate (e.g.,horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) or radioactive molecule(e.g., 32P or 125I) diluted in blocking buffer, washing the membrane inwash buffer, and detecting the presence of the antigen. One of skill inthe art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modifiedto increase the signal detected and to reduce the background noise. Forfurther discussion regarding western blot protocols see, e.g., Ausubelet al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, JohnWiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.8.1.

ELISAs comprise preparing antigen, coating the well of a 96 wellmicrotiter plate with the antigen, adding the antibody of interestconjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate(e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) to the well andincubating for a period of time, and detecting the presence of theantigen. In ELISAs the antibody of interest does not have to beconjugated to a detectable compound; instead, a second antibody (whichrecognizes the antibody of interest) conjugated to a detectable compoundmay be added to the well. Further, instead of coating the well with theantigen, the antibody may be coated to the well. In this case, a secondantibody conjugated to a detectable compound may be added following theaddition of the antigen of interest to the coated well. One of skill inthe art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modifiedto increase the signal detected as well as other variations of ELISAsknown in the art. For further discussion regarding ELISAs see, e.g.,Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol.1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 11.2.1.

The binding affinity of an antibody to an antigen and the off-rate of anantibody-antigen interaction can be determined by competitive bindingassays. One example of a competitive binding assay is a radioimmunoassaycomprising the incubation of labeled antigen (e.g., 3H or 125I) with theantibody of interest in the presence of increasing amounts of unlabeledantigen, and the detection of the antibody bound to the labeled antigen.The affinity of the antibody of interest for a particular antigen andthe binding off-rates can be determined from the data by scatchard plotanalysis. Competition with a second antibody can also be determinedusing radioimmunoassays. In this case, the antigen is incubated withantibody of interest conjugated to a labeled compound (e.g., 3H or 125I)in the presence of increasing amounts of an unlabeled second antibody.

Therapeutic Uses

The present invention is further directed to antibody-based therapieswhich involve administering antibodies of the invention to an animal,preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, patient for treatingone or more of the disclosed diseases, disorders, or conditions.Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to,antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs andderivatives thereof as described herein) and nucleic acids encodingantibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs andderivatives thereof and anti-idiotypic antibodies as described herein).The antibodies of the invention can be used to treat, inhibit or preventdiseases, disorders or conditions associated with aberrant expressionand/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention, including, but notlimited to, any one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditionsdescribed herein. The treatment and/or prevention of diseases,disorders, or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/oractivity of a polypeptide of the invention includes, but is not limitedto, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases, disorders orconditions. Antibodies of the invention may be provided inpharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or asdescribed herein.

A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the present inventionmay be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotides orpolypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in thebody or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated bycomplement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approachesare described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use theantibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring ortherapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilized incombination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or withlymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors (such as, e.g., IL-2, IL-3and IL-7), for example, which serve to increase the number or activityof effector cells which interact with the antibodies.

The antibodies of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with other types of treatments (e.g., radiation therapy,chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and anti-tumor agents).Generally, administration of products of a species origin or speciesreactivity (in the case of antibodies) that is the same species as thatof the patient is preferred. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, humanantibodies, fragments derivatives, analogs, or nucleic acids, areadministered to a human patient for therapy or prophylaxis.

It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivo inhibitingand/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides or polynucleotidesof the present invention, fragments or regions thereof, for bothimmunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related topolynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragments thereof, of thepresent invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, willpreferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides of theinvention, including fragments thereof. Preferred binding affinitiesinclude those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻² M,10−2 M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³ M, 5×10⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵ M, 10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁶ M,10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁻⁷ M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹ M, 5×10⁻¹⁰ M,10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×10⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹² M, 10⁻¹² M, 5×10⁻¹³ M, 10⁻¹³ M,5×10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M, 5×10⁻¹⁵ M, and 10⁻¹⁵ M.

Gene Therapy

In a specific embodiment, nucleic acids comprising sequences encodingantibodies or functional derivatives thereof, are administered to treat,inhibit or prevent a disease or disorder associated with aberrantexpression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention, by way ofgene therapy. Gene therapy refers to therapy performed by theadministration to a subject of an expressed or expressible nucleic acid.In this embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acids produce theirencoded protein that mediates a therapeutic effect.

Any of the methods for gene therapy available in the art can be usedaccording to the present invention. Exemplary methods are describedbelow.

For general reviews of the methods of gene therapy, see Goldspiel etal., Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505 (1993); Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 3:87-95(1991); Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993);Mulligan, Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev.Biochem. 62:191-217 (1993); May, TIBTECH 11(5):155-215 (1993). Methodscommonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology which can beused are described in Ausubel et al. (eds.), Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); and Kriegler, GeneTransfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY (1990).

In a preferred aspect, the compound comprises nucleic acid sequencesencoding an antibody, said nucleic acid sequences being part ofexpression vectors that express the antibody or fragments or chimericproteins or heavy or light chains thereof in a suitable host. Inparticular, such nucleic acid sequences have promoters operably linkedto the antibody coding region, said promoter being inducible orconstitutive, and, optionally, tissue-specific. In another particularembodiment, nucleic acid molecules are used in which the antibody codingsequences and any other desired sequences are flanked by regions thatpromote homologous recombination at a desired site in the genome, thusproviding for intrachromosomal expression of the antibody encodingnucleic acids (Koller and Smithies, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989). Inspecific embodiments, the expressed antibody molecule is a single chainantibody; alternatively, the nucleic acid sequences include sequencesencoding both the heavy and light chains, or fragments thereof, of theantibody.

Delivery of the nucleic acids into a patient may be either direct, inwhich case the patient is directly exposed to the nucleic acid ornucleic acid- carrying vectors, or indirect, in which case, cells arefirst transformed with the nucleic acids in vitro, then transplantedinto the patient. These two approaches are known, respectively, as invivo or ex vivo gene therapy.

In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences are directlyadministered in vivo, where it is expressed to produce the encodedproduct. This can be accomplished by any of numerous methods known inthe art, e.g., by constructing them as part of an appropriate nucleicacid expression vector and administering it so that they becomeintracellular, e.g., by infection using defective or attenuatedretrovirals or other viral vectors (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or bydirect injection of naked DNA, or by use of microparticle bombardment(e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids orcell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, encapsulation inliposomes, microparticles, or microcapsules, or by administering them inlinkage to a peptide which is known to enter the nucleus, byadministering it in linkage to a ligand subject to receptor-mediatedendocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432 (1987))(which can be used to target cell types specifically expressing thereceptors), etc. In another embodiment, nucleic acid-ligand complexescan be formed in which the ligand comprises a fusogenic viral peptide todisrupt endosomes, allowing the nucleic acid to avoid lysosomaldegradation. In yet another embodiment, the nucleic acid can be targetedin vivo for cell specific uptake and expression, by targeting a specificreceptor (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 92/06180; WO 92/22635;WO92/20316; WO93/14188, WO 93/20221). Alternatively, the nucleic acidcan be introduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNAfor expression, by homologous recombination (Koller and Smithies, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature342:435-438 (1989)).

In a specific embodiment, viral vectors that contains nucleic acidsequences encoding an antibody of the invention are used. Forexample, aretroviral vector can be used (see Miller et al., Meth. Enzymol.217:581-599 (1993)). These retroviral vectors contain the componentsnecessary for the correct packaging of the viral genome and integrationinto the host cell DNA. The nucleic acid sequences encoding the antibodyto be used in gene therapy are cloned into one or more vectors, whichfacilitates delivery of the gene into a patient. More detail aboutretroviral vectors can be found in Boesen et al., Biotherapy 6:291-302(1994), which describes the use of a retroviral vector to deliver themdrl gene to hematopoietic stem cells in order to make the stem cellsmore resistant to chemotherapy. Other references illustrating the use ofretroviral vectors in gene therapy are: Clowes et al, J. Clin. Invest.93:644-651 (1994);Kiem et al., Blood 83:1467-1473 (1994); Salmons andGunzberg, Human Gene Therapy 4:129-141 (1993); and Grossman and Wilson,Curr. Opin. in Genetics and Devel. 3:110-114 (1993).

Adenoviruses are other viral vectors that can be used in gene therapy.Adenoviruses are especially attractive vehicles for delivering genes torespiratory epithelia. Adenoviruses naturally infect respiratoryepithelia where they cause a mild disease. Other targets foradenovirus-based delivery systems are liver, the central nervous system,endothelial cells, and muscle. Adenoviruses have the advantage of beingcapable of infecting non-dividing cells. Kozarsky and Wilson, CurrentOpinion in Genetics and Development 3:499-503 (1993) present a review ofadenovirus-based gene therapy. Bout et al., Human Gene Therapy 5:3-10(1994) demonstrated the use of adenoyirus vectors to transfer genes tothe respiratory epithelia of rhesus monkeys. Other instances of the useof adenoviruses in gene therapy can be found in Rosenfeld et al.,Science 252:431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992);Mastrangeli et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:225-234 (1993); PCT PublicationWO94/12649; and Wang, et al., Gene Therapy 2:775-783 (1995). In apreferred embodiment, adenovirus vectors are used.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has also been proposed for use in genetherapy (Walsh et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 204:289-300 (1993);.U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,146).

Another approach to gene therapy involves transferring a gene to cellsin tissue culture by such methods as electroporation, lipofection,calcium phosphate mediated transfection, or viral infection. Usually,the method of transfer includes the transfer of a selectable marker tothe cells. The cells are then placed under selection to isolate thosecells that have taken up and are expressing the transferred gene. Thosecells are then delivered to a patient.

In this embodiment, the nucleic acid is introduced into a cell prior toadministration in vivo of the resulting recombinant cell. Suchintroduction can be carried out by any method known in the art,including but not limited to transfection, electroporation,microinjection, infection with a viral or bacteriophage vectorcontaining the nucleic acid sequences, cell fusion, chromosome-mediatedgene transfer, microcell-mediated gene transfer, spheroplast fusion,etc. Numerous techniques are known in the art for the introduction offoreign genes into cells (see, e.g., Loeffler and Behr, Meth. Enzymol.217:599-618(1993); Cohen et al., Meth. Enzymol. 217:618-644 (1993);Cline, Pharmac. Ther. 29:69-92 m (1985) and may be used in accordancewith the present invention, provided that the necessary developmentaland physiological functions of the recipient cells are not disrupted.The technique should provide for the stable transfer of the nucleic acidto the cell, so that the nucleic acid is expressible by the cell andpreferably heritable and expressible by its cell progeny.

The resulting recombinant cells can be delivered to a patient by variousmethods known in the art. Recombinant blood cells (e.g., hematopoieticstem or progenitor cells) are preferably administered intravenously. Theamount of cells envisioned for use depends on the desired effect,patient state, etc., and can be determined by one skilled in the art.

Cells into which a nucleic acid can be introduced for purposes of genetherapy encompass any desired, available cell type, and include but arenot limited to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes,fibroblasts, muscle cells, hepatocytes; blood cells such as Tlymphocytes, B lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils,eosinophils, megakaryocytes, granulocytes; various stem or progenitorcells, in particular hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, e.g., asobtained from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, fetalliver, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the cell used for gene therapy is autologousto the patient.

In an embodiment in which recombinant cells are used in gene therapy,nucleic acid sequences encoding an antibody are introduced into thecells such that they are expressible by the cells or their progeny, andthe recombinant cells are then administered in vivo for therapeuticeffect. In a specific embodiment, stem or progenitor cells are used. Anystem and/or progenitor cells which can be isolated and maintained invitro can potentially be used in accordance with this embodiment of thepresent invention (see e.g. PCT Publication WO 94/08598; Stemple andAnderson, Cell 71:973-985 (1992); Rheinwald, Meth. Cell Bio. 21A:229(1980); and Pittelkow and Scott, Mayo Clinic Proc. 61:771 (1986)).

In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid to be introduced for purposesof gene therapy comprises an inducible promoter operably linked to thecoding region, such that expression of the nucleic acid is controllableby controlling the presence or absence of the appropriate inducer oftranscription. Demonstration of Therapeutic or Prophylactic Activity

The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention arepreferably tested in vitro, and then in vivo for the desired therapeuticor prophylactic activity, prior to use in humans. For example, in vitroassays to demonstrate the therapeutic or prophylactic utility of acompound or pharmaceutical composition include, the effect of a compoundon a cell line or a patient tissue sample. The effect of the compound orcomposition on the cell line and/or tissue sample can be determinedutilizing techniques known to those of skill in the art including, butnot limited to, rosette formation assays and cell lysis assays. Inaccordance with the invention, in vitro assays which can be used todetermine whether administration of a specific compound is indicated,include in vitro cell culture assays in which a patient tissue sample isgrown in culture, and exposed to or otherwise administered a compound,and the effect of such compound upon the tissue sample is observed.

Therapeutic/Prophylactic Administration and Composition

The invention provides methods of treatment, inhibition and prophylaxisby administration to a subject of an effective amount of a compound orpharmaceutical composition of the invention, preferably a polypeptide orantibody of the invention. In a preferred aspect, the compound issubstantially purified (e.g., substantially free from substances thatlimit its effect or produce undesired side-effects). The subject ispreferably an animal, including but not limited to animals such as cows,pigs, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, etc., and is preferablya mammal, andmost preferably human.

Formulations and methods of administration that can be employed when thecompound comprises a nucleic acid or an immunoglobulin are describedabove; additional appropriate formulations and routes of administrationcan be selected from among those described herein below.

Various delivery systems are known and can be used to administer acompound of the invention, e.g., encapsulation in liposomes,microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable of expressingthe compound, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J.Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432 (1987)), construction of a nucleic acid aspart of a retroviralor other vector, etc. Methods of introductioninclude but are not limited to intradermal, intramuscular,intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, andoral routes. The compounds or compositions may be administered by anyconvenient route, for. example by infusion or bolus injection, byabsorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e.g., oralmucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administeredtogether with other biologically active agents. Administration can besystemic or local. In addition, it may be desirable to introduce thepharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention into thecentral nervous system by any suitable route, including intraventricularand intrathecal injection; intraventricular injection may befacilitatedby an intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to areservoir, such as an Ommaya reservoir. Pulmonary administration canalso be employed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, andformulation with an aerosolizing agent.

In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer thepharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention locally to thearea in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and notby way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topicalapplication, e.g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery,by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or bymeans of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, orgelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes,or fibers. Preferably, when administering a protein, including anantibody, of the invention, care must be taken to use materials to whichthe protein does not absorb.

In another embodiment, the compound or composition can be delivered in avesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science 249:1527-1533(1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Diseaseand Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, New York, pp.353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327: see generallyibid.)

In yet another embodiment, the compound or composition can be deliveredin a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used(see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987);Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. Med.321:574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used(see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise (eds.),CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla.(1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, DrugProduct Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, New York(1984); Ranger and Peppas, J., Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61(1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228:190 (1985); During et al.,Ann. Neurol. 25:351 (1989); Howard et al., J. Neurosurg. 71:105 (1989)).In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed inproximity of the therapeutic target, i.e., the brain, thus requiringonly a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e.g., Goodson, in MedicalApplications of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)).

Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review by Langer(Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

In a specific embodiment where the compound of the invention is anucleic acid encoding a protein, the nucleic acid can be administered invivo to promote expression of its encoded protein, by constructing it aspart of an appropriate nucleic acid expression vector and administeringit so that it becomes intracellular, e.g., by use of a retroviral vector(see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or by direct injection, or by use ofmicroparticle bombardment (e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), orcoating with lipids or cell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, orby administering it in linkage to a homeobox-like peptide which is knownto enter the nucleus (see e.g., Joliot et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 88:1864-1868 (1991)), etc. Alternatively, a nucleic acid can beintroduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNA forexpression, by homologous recombination.

The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions. Suchcompositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of a compound,and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specific embodiment, theterm “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agencyof the Federal or a state government or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeiaor other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and moreparticularly in humans. The term “carrier” refers to a diluent,adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic isadministered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids, suchas water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable orsynthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesameoil and the like. Water is a preferred carrier when the pharmaceuticalcomposition is administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueousdextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers,particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceuticalexcipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt,rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate,talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol,water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can alsocontain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH bufferingagents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions,emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-releaseformulations and the like. The composition can be formulated as asuppository, with traditional binders and carriers such astriglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such aspharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate,sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples ofsuitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin. Such compositions will containa therapeutically effective amount of the compound, preferably inpurified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as toprovide the form for proper administration to the patient. Theformulation should suit the mode of administration.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated in accordancewith routine procedures as a pharmaceutical composition adapted forintravenous administration to human beings. Typically, compositions forintravenous administration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueousbuffer. Where necessary, the composition may also include a solubilizingagent and a local anesthetic such as lignocaine to ease pain at the siteof the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied eitherseparately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a drylyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealedcontainer such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity ofactive agent. Where the composition is to be administered by infusion,it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterilepharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where the composition isadministered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection orsaline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior toadministration.

The compounds of the invention can be formulated as neutral or saltforms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed withanions such as those derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic,oxalic, tartaric acids, etc., and those formed with cations such asthosederived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferric hydroxides,isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine,procaine, etc.

The amount of the compound of the invention which will be effective inthe treatment, inhibition and prevention of a disease or disorderassociated with aberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide ofthe invention can be determined by standard clinical techniques. Inaddition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed to help identifyoptimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed in theformulation will also depend on the route of administration, and theseriousness of the disease or disorder, and should be decided accordingto the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances.Effective doses may be extrapolated from dose-response curves derivedfrom in vitro or animal model test systems.

For antibodies, the dosage administered to a patient is typically 0.1mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Preferably, the dosageadministered to a patient is between 0.1 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of thepatient's body weight, more preferably 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of thepatient's body weight. Generally, human antibodies have a longerhalf-life within the human body than antibodies from other species dueto the immune response to the foreign polypeptides. Thus, lower dosagesof human antibodies and less frequent administration is often possible.Further, the dosage and frequency of administration of antibodies of theinvention may be reduced by enhancing uptake and tissue penetration(e.g., into the brain) of the antibodies by modifications such as, forexample, lipidation.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising oneor more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of thepharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Optionally associated withsuch container(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by agovernmental agency regulating the manufacture, use or sale ofpharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflects approvalby the agency of manufacture, use or sale for human administration.

Diagnosis and Imaging

Labeled antibodies, and derivatives and analogs thereof, whichspecifically bind to a polypeptide of interest can be used fordiagnostic purposes to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disorders,and/or conditions associated with the aberrant expression and/oractivity of a polypeptide of the invention. The invention provides forthe detection of aberrant expression of a polypeptide of interest,comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide of interest incells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodiesspecific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of geneexpression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase ordecrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared tothe standard expression level is indicative of aberrant expression.

The invention provides a diagnostic assay for diagnosing a disorder,comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide of interest incells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodiesspecific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of geneexpression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase ordecrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared tothe standard expression level is indicative of a particular disorder.With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively high amount oftranscript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicate apredisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide ameans for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actualclinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allowhealth professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressivetreatment earlier thereby preventing the development or furtherprogression of the cancer.

Antibodies of the invention can be used to assay protein levels in abiological sample using classical immunohistological methods known tothose of skill in the art (e.g., see Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol.101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell . Biol. 105:3087-3096(1987)). Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein geneexpression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assaylabels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucoseoxidase; radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C),sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99Tc);luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such asfluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

One aspect of the invention is the detection and diagnosis of a diseaseor disorder associated with aberrant expression of a polypeptide ofinterest in an animal, preferably a mammal and most preferably a human.In one embodiment, diagnosis comprises: a) administering (for example,parenterally, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally) to a subject aneffective amount of a labeled molecule which specifically binds to thepolypeptide of interest; b) waiting for a time interval following theadministering for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentiallyconcentrate at sites in the subject where the polypeptide is expressed(and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared to background level); c)determining background level; and d) detecting the labeled molecule inthe subject, such that detection of labeled molecule above thebackground level indicates that the subject has a particular disease ordisorder associated with aberrant expression of the polypeptide ofinterest. Background level can be determined by various methodsincluding, comparing the amount of labeled molecule detected to astandard value previously determined for a particular system.

It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject and theimaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety neededto produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, fora human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normallyrange from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99mTc. The labeled antibody orantibody fragment will then preferentially accumulate at the location ofcells which contain the specific protein. In vivo tumor imaging isdescribed in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics ofRadiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in TumorImaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A.Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982).

Depending on several variables, including the type of label used and themode of administration, the time interval following the administrationfor permitting the labeled molecule to preferentially concentrate atsites in the subject and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared tobackground level is 6 to 48 hours or 6 to 24 hours or 6 to 12 hours. Inanother embodiment the time interval following administration is 5 to 20days or 5 to 10 days.

In an embodiment, monitoring of the disease or disorder is carried outby repeating the method for diagnosing the disease or disease, forexample, one month after initial diagnosis, six months after initialdiagnosis, one year after initial diagnosis, etc.

Presence of the labeled molecule can be detected in the patient usingmethods known in the art for in vivo scanning. These methods depend uponthe type of label used. Skilled artisans will be able to determine theappropriate method for detecting a particular label. Methods and devicesthat may be used in the diagnostic methods of the invention include, butare not limited to, computed tomography (CT), whole body scan such asposition emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),and sonography.

In a specific embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a radioisotopeand is detected in the patient using a radiation responsive surgicalinstrument (Thurston et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,050). In anotherembodiment, the molecule is labeled with a fluorescent compound and isdetected in the patient using a fluorescence responsive scanninginstrument. In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with apositron emitting metal and is detected in the patent using positronemission-tomography. In yet another embodiment, the molecule is labeledwith a paramagnetic label and is detected in a patient using magneticresonance imaging (MRI).

Kits

The present invention provides kits that can be used in the abovemethods. In one embodiment, a kit comprises an antibody of theinvention, preferably a purified antibody, in one or more containers. Ina specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain asubstantially isolated pojypeptide comprising an epitope which isspecifically immunoreactive with an antibody included in the kit.Preferably, the kits of the present invention further comprise a controlantibody which does not react with the. polypeptide of interest. Inanother specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain ameans for detecting the binding of an antibody to a polypeptide ofinterest (e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substratesuch as a fluorescent compound, an enzymatic substrate, a radioactivecompound or a luminescent compound, or a second antibody whichrecognizes the first antibody may be conjugatedto a detectablesubstrate).

In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the kit is adiagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antibodies specificagainst proliferative and/or cancerous polynucleotides and polypeptides.Such a kit may include a control antibody that does not react with thepolypeptide of interest. Such a kit may include a substantially isolatedpolypeptide antigen comprising an epitope which is specificallyimmunoreactive with at least one anti-polypeptide antigen antibody.Further, such a kit includes means for detecting the binding of saidantibody to the antigen(e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to afluorescent compound such as fluorescein or rhodamine which can bedetected by flow cytometry). In specific embodiments, the kit mayinclude a recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized polypeptideantigen. The polypeptide antigen of the kit may also be attached to asolid support.

In a more specific embodiment the detecting means of the above-describedkit includes a solid support to which said polypeptide antigen isattached. Such a kit may also include a non-attached reporter-labeledanti-human antibody. In this embodiment, binding of the antibody to thepolypeptide antigen can be detected by binding of the saidreporter-labeled antibody.

In an additional embodiment, the invention includes a diagnostic kit foruse in screening serum containing antigens of the polypeptide of theinvention. The diagnostic kit includes a substantially isolated antibodyspecifically immunoreactive with polypeptide or polynucleotide antigens,and means for detecting the binding of the polynucleotide or polypeptideantigen to the antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody is attached toa solid support. In a specific embodiment, the antibody may be amonoclonal antibody. The detecting means of the kit may include asecond, labeled monoclonal antibody. Alternatively, or in addition, thedetecting means may include a labeled, competing antigen.

In one diagnostic configuration, test serum is reacted with a solidphase reagent having a surface-bound antigen obtained by the methods ofthe present invention. After binding with specific antigen antibody tothe reagent and removing unbound serum components by washing, thereagent is reacted with reporter-labeled anti-human antibody to bindreporter to the reagent in proportion to the amount of boundanti-antigen antibody on the solid support The reagent is again washedto remove unbound labeled antibody, and the amount of reporterassociated with the reagent is determined. Typically, the reporter is anenzyme which is detected by incubating the solid phase in the presenceof a suitable fluorometric, luminescent or colorimetric substrate(Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.).

The solid surface reagent in the above assay is prepared by knowntechniques for attaching protein material to solid support material,such as polymeric beads, dip sticks, 96-well plate or filter material.These attachment methods generally include non-specific adsorption ofthe protein to the support or covalent attachment of the protein,typically through a free amine group, to a chemically reactivegroup onthe solid support, such as an activated carboxyl, hydroxyl, or aldehydegroup. Alternatively, streptavidin coated plates can be used inconjunction with biotinylated antigen(s).

Thus, the invention provides an assay system or kit for carrying outthis diagnostic method. The kit generally includes a support withsurface-bound recombinant antigens, and a reporter-labeled anti-humanantibody for detecting surface-bound anti-antigen antibody.

Uses of the Polynucleotides

Each of the polynucleotides identified herein can be used in numerousways as reagents. The following description should be consideredexemplary and utilizes known techniques.

The polynucleotides of the present invention are useful for chromosomeidentification. There exists an ongoing need to identify new chromosomemarkers, since few chromosome marking reagents, based on actual sequencedata (repeat polymorphisms), are presently available. Each sequence isspecifically targeted to and can hybridize with a particular location onan individual human chromosome, thus each polynucleotide of the presentinvention can routinely be used as a chromosome marker using techniquesknown in the art.

Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCR primers(preferably at least 15 bp (e.g., 15-25 bp) from the sequences shown inSEQ ID NO:X. Primers can optionally be selected using computer analysisso that primers do not span more than one predicted exon in the genomicDNA. These primers are then used for PCR screening of somatic cellhybrids containing individual human chromosomes. Only those hybridscontaining the human gene corresponding to SEQ D NO:X will yield anamplified fragment.

Similarly, somatic hybrids provide a rapid method of PCR mapping thepolynucleotides to particular chromosomes. Three or more clones can beassigned per day using a single thermal cycler. Moreover,sublocalization of the polynucleotides can be achieved with panels ofspecific chromosome fragments. Other gene mapping strategies that can beused include in situ hybridization, prescreening with labeledflow-sorted chromosomes, preselection by hybridization to constructchromosome specific-cDNA libraries, and computer mapping techniques(See, e.g., Shuler, Trends Biotechnol 16:456-459 (1998) which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety).

Precise chromosomal location of the polynucleotides can also be achievedusing fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a metaphasechromosomal spread. This technique uses polynucleotides as short as 500or 600 bases; however, polynucleotides 2,000-4,000 bp are preferred. Fora review of this technique, see Verma et al., “Human Chromosomes: aManual of Basic Techniques,” Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

For chromosome mapping, the polynucleotides can be used individually (tomark a single chromosome or a single site on that chromosome) or inpanels (for marking multiple sites and/or multiple chromosomes).

Thus, the present invention also provides a method for chromosomallocalization which involves (a) preparing PCR primers from thepolynucleotide sequences in Table 1 and SEQ ID NO:X and (b) screeningsomatic cell hybrids containing individual chromosomes.

The polynucleotides of the present invention would likewise be usefulfor radiation hybrid. mapping, HAPPY mapping, and long range restrictionmapping. For a review of these techniques and others known in the art,see, e.g. Dear, “Genome Mapping: A. Practical Approach,” IRL Press atOxford University Press, London (1997); Aydin, J. Mol. Med. 77:691-694(1999); Hacia et al., Mol. Psychiatry 3:483-492 (1998); Herrick et al.,Chromosome Res. 7:409-423 (1999); Hamilton et al., Methods Cell Biol.62:265-280 (2000); and/or Ott, J. Hered. 90:68-70 (1999) each of whichis hereby incorporated by tw reference in its entirety.

Once a polynucleotide has been mapped to a precise chromosomal location,the physical position of the polynucleotide can be used in linkageanalysis. Linkage analysis establishes coinheritance between achromosomal location and presentation of a particular disease. (Diseasemapping data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, MendelianInheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins UniversityWelch Medical Library)). Assuming 1 megabase mapping resolution and onegene per 20 kb, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal regionassociated with the disease could be one of 50-500 potential causativegenes.

Thus, once coinheritance is established, differences in a polynucleotideof the invention and the corresponding gene between affected andunaffected individuals can be examined. First, visible structuralalterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations, areexamined in chromosome spreads or by PCR. If no structural alterationsexist, the presence of point mutations are ascertained. Mutationsobserved in some or all affected individuals, but not in normalindividuals, indicates that the mutation may cause the disease. However,complete sequencing of the polypeptide and the corresponding gene fromseveral normal individuals is required to distinguish the mutation froma polymorphism. If a new polymorphism is identified, this polymorphicpolypeptide can be used for further linkage analysis.

Furthermore, increased or decreased expression of the gene in affectedindividuals as compared to unaffected individuals can be assessed usingthe polynucleotides of the invention. Any of these alterations (alteredexpression, chromosomal rearrangement, or mutation) can be used as adiagnostic or prognostic marker.

Thus, the invention also provides a diagnostic method useful duringdiagnosis of a disorder, involving measuring the expression level ofpolynucleotides of the present invention in cells or body fluid from anindividual and comparing the measured gene expression level with astandard level of polynucleotide expression level, whereby an increaseor decrease in the gene expression level compared to the standard isindicative of a disorder.

In still another embodiment, the invention includes a kit for analyzingsamples for the presence of proliferative and/or cancerouspolynucleotides derived from a test subject. In a general embodiment,the kit includes at least one polynucleotide probe containing anucleotide sequence that will specifically hybridize with apolynucleotide of the invention and a suitable container. In a specificembodiment, the kit includes two polynucleotide probes defining aninternal region of the polynucleotide of the invention, where each probehas one strand containing a 31′ mer-end internal to the region. In afurther embodiment, the probes may be useful as primers for polymerasechain reaction amplification.

Where a diagnosis of a related disorder, including, for example,diagnosis of a tumor, has already been made according to conventionalmethods, the present invention is useful as a prognostic indicator,whereby patients exhibiting enhanced or depressed polynucleotide of theinvention expression will experience a worse clinical outcome relativeto patients expressing the gene at a level nearer the standard level.

By “measuring the expression level of polynucleotides of the invention”is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuring or estimating thelevel of the polypeptide of the invention or the level of the mRNAencoding the polypeptide of the invention in a first biological sampleeither directly (e.g., by determining or estimating absolute proteinlevel or mRNA level) or relatively (e.g., by comparing to thepolypeptide level or mRNA level in a second biological sample).Preferably, the polypeptide level or mRNA level in the first biologicalsample is measured or estimated and compared to a standard polypeptidelevel or mRNA level, the standard being taken from a second biologicalsample obtained from an individual not having the related disorder orbeing determined by averaging levels from a population of individualsnot having a related disorder. As will be appreciated in the art, once astandard polypeptide level or mRNA level is known, it can be usedrepeatedly as a standard for comparison.

By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained froman individual, body fluid, cell line, tissue culture, or other sourcewhich contains polypeptide of the present invention or the correspondingmRNA. As indicated, biological samples include body fluids (such assemen, lymph, sera, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid)which contain the polypeptide of the present invention, and tissuesources found to express the polypeptide of the present invention.Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals arewell known in the art. Where the biological sample is to include mRNA, atissue biopsy is the preferred source.

The method(s) provided above may preferrably be applied in a diagnosticmethod and/or kits in which polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of theinvention are attached to a solid support. In one exemplary method, thesupport may be a “gene chip” or a “biological chip” as described in U.SPat, Nos. 5,837,832, 5,874,219, and 5,856,174. Further, such a gene chipwith polynucleotides of the invention attached may be used to identifypolymorphisms between the isolated polynucleotide sequences of theinvention, with polynucleotides isolated from a test subject. Theknowledge of such polymorphisms (i.e. their location, as well as, theirexistence) would be beneficial in identifying disease loci for manydisorders, such as for example, in neural disorders, immune systemdisorders, muscular disorders, reproductive disorders, gastrointestinaldisorders, pulmonary disorders, cardiovascular disorders, renaldisorders, proliferative disorders, and/or cancerous diseases andconditions. Such a method is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,858,659 and5,856,104. The US Patents referenced supra are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety herein.

The present invention encompasses polynucleotides of the presentinvention that are chemically synthesized, or reproduced as peptidenucleic acids (PNA), or according to other methods known in the art. Theuse of PNAs would serve as the preferred form if the polynucleotides ofthe invention are incorporated onto a solid support, or gene chip. Forthe purposes of the present invention, a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is apolyamnide type of DNA analog and the monomeric units for adenine,guanine, thymine and cytosine are available commercially (PerceptiveBiosystems). Certain components of DNA, such as phosphorus, phosphorusoxides, or deoxyribose derivatives, are not present in PNAs. Asdisclosed by P. E. Nielsen, M. Egholm, R. H. Berg and O. Buchardt,Science 254, 1497 (1991); and M. Egholm, O. Buchardt, L. Christensen, C.Behrens, S. M. Freier, D. A. Driver, R. H. Berg, S. K. Kim, B. Norden,and P. E. Nielsen, Nature 365, 666 (1993), PNAs bind specifically andtightly to complementary DNA strands and are not degraded by nucleases.In fact, PNA binds more strongly to DNA than DNA itself does. This isprobably because there is no electrostatic repulsion between the twostrands, and also the polyamide backbone is more flexible. Because ofthis, PNA/DNA duplexes bind under a wider range of stringency conditionsthan DNA/DNA duplexes, making it easier to perform multiplexhybridization. Smaller probes can be used than with DNA due to thestrong binding. In addition, it is more likely that single basemismatches can be determined with PNA/DNA hybridization because a singlemismatch in a PNA/DNA 15-mer lowers the melting point (T.sub.m) by8°-20° C., vs. 4°-16° C. for the DNA/DNA 15-mer duplex. Also, theabsence of charge groups in PNA means that hybridization can be done atlow ionic strengths and reduce possible interference bysalt during theanalysis.

The present invention have uses which include, but are not limited to,detecting cancer in mammals. In particular the invention is usefulduring diagnosis of pathological cell proliferative neoplasias whichinclude, but are not limited to: acute myelogenous leukemias includingacute monocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acutepromyelocytic leukemia, acute myelomonocytic leukemia, acuteerythroleukemia, acute megakaryocytic leukemia, and acuteundifferentiated leukemia, etc.; and chronic myelogenous leukemiasincluding chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, chronic granulocyticleukemia, etc. Preferred mammals include monkeys, apes, cats, dogs,cows, pigs, horses, rabbits and humans. Particularly preferred arehumans.

Pathological cell proliferative disorders are often associated withinappropriate activation of proto-oncogenes. (Gelmann, E. P. et al.,“The Etiology of Acute Leukemia: Molecular Genetics and Viral Oncology,”in Neoplastic Diseases of the Blood, Vol 1., Wiernik, P. H. et al. eds.,161-182 (1985)). Neoplasias are now believed to result from thequalitative alteration of a normal cellular gene product, or from thequantitative modification of gene expression by insertion into thechromosome of a viral sequence, by chromosomal translocation of a geneto a more actively transcribed region, or by some other mechanism.(Gelmann et al., supra) It is likely that mutated or altered expressionof specific genes is involved in the pathogenesis of some leukemias,among other tissues and cell types. (Gelmann et al., supra) Indeed, thehuman counterparts of the oncogenes involved in some animal neoplasiashave been amplified or translocated in some cases of human leukemia andcarcinoma. (Gelmann et al., supra)

For example, c-myc expression is highly amplified in the non-lymphocyticleukemia cell line HL-60. When HL-60 cells are chemically induced tostop proliferation, the level of c-myc is found to be downregulated.(International Publication Number WO 91/15580). However, it has beenshown that exposure of HL-60 cells to a DNA construct that iscomplementary to the 5′ end of c-myc or c-myb blocks translation of thecorresponding mRNAs which downregulates expression of the c-myc or c-mybproteins and causes arrest of cell proliferation and differentiation ofthe treated cells. (International Publication Number WO 91/15580;Wickstrom et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:1028 (1988); Anfossi et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86:3379 (1989)). However, the skilled artisanwould appreciate the present invention's usefulness is not be limited totreatment of proliferative disorders of hematopoietic cells and tissues,in light of the numerous cells and cell types of varying origins whichare known to exhibit proliferative phenotypes.

In addition to the foregoing, a polynucleotide of the present inventioncan be used to control gene expression through triple helix formation orthrough antisense DNA or RNA. Antisense techniques are discussed, forexample, in Okano, J. Neurochem. 56: 560 (1991) “Oligodeoxynucleotidesas Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.(1988). Triple helix formation is discussed in, for instance Lee et al.,Nucleic Acids Research 6: 3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241: 456(1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251: 1360 (1991). Both methods relyon binding of the polynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA. Forthese techniques, preferred polynucleotides are usually oligonucleotides20 to 40 bases in length and complementary to either the region of thegene involved in transcription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. AcidsRes. 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241:456 (1988); and Dervan etal., Science 251:1360 (1991) ) or to the mRNA itself (antisense—Okano,J. Neurochem. 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxy-nucleotides as AntisenseInhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988)).Triple helix formation optimally results in a shut-off of RNAtranscription from DNA, while antisense RNA hybridization blockstranslation of an mRNA molecule into polypeptide. The oligonucleotidedescribed above can also be delivered to cells such that the antisenseRNA or DNA may be expressed in vivo to inhibit production of polypeptideof the present invention antigens. Both techniques are effective inmodel systems, and the information disclosed herein can be used todesign antisense or triple helix polynucleotides in an effort to treatdisease, and in particular, for the treatment of proliferative diseasesand/or conditions.

Polynucleotides of the present invention are also useful in genetherapy. One goal of gene therapy is to insert a normal gene into anorganism having a defective gene, in an effort to correct the geneticdefect. The polynucleotides disclosed in the present invention offer ameans of targeting such genetic defects in a highly accurate manner.Another goal is to insert a new gene that was not present in the hostgenome, thereby producing a new trait in the host cell.

The polynucleotides are also useful for identifying individuals fromminute biological samples. The United States military, for example, isconsidering the use of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)for identification of its personnel. In this technique, an individual'sgenomic DNA is digested with one or more restriction enzymes, and probedon a Southern blot to yield unique bands for identifying personnel. Thismethod does not suffer from the current limitations of “Dog Tags” whichcan be lost, switched, or stolen, making positive identificationdifficult. The polynucleotides of the present invention can be used asadditional DNA markers for RFLP.

The polynucleotides of the present invention can also be used as analternative to RFLP, by determining the actual base-by-base DNA sequenceof selected portions of an individual's genome. These sequences can beused to prepare PCR primers for amplifying and isolating such selectedDNA, which can then be sequenced. Using this technique, individuals canbe identified because each individual will have a unique set of DNAsequences. Once an unique ID database is established for an individual,positive identification of that individual, living or dead, can be madefrom extremely small tissue samples.

Forensic biology also benefits from using DNA-based identificationtechniques as disclosed herein. DNA sequences taken from very smallbiological samples such as tissues, e.g., hair or skin, or body fluids,e.g., blood, saliva, semen, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, breast milk,lymph, pulmonary sputum or surfactant, urine, fecal matter, etc., can beamplified using PCR. In one prior art technique, gene sequencesamplified from polymorphic loci, such as DQa class II HLA gene, are usedin forensic biology to identify individuals. (Erlich, H., PCRTechnology, Freeman and Co. (1992)). Once these specific polymorphicloci are amplified, they are digested with one or more restrictionenzymes, yielding an identifying set of bands on a Southern blot probedwith DNA corresponding to the DQa class II HLA gene. Similarly,polynucleotides of the present invention can be used as polymorphicmarkers for forensic purposes.

There is also a need for reagents capable of identifying the source of aparticular tissue. Such need arises, for example, in forensics whenpresented with tissue of unknown origin. Appropriate reagents cancomprise, for example, DNA probes or primers prepared from the sequencesof the present invention. Panels of such reagents can identify tissue byspecies and/or by organ type. In a similar fashion, these reagents canbe used to screen tissue cultures for contamination.

The polynucleotides of the present invention are also useful ashybridization probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) orcell type(s) present in a biological sample. Similarly, polypeptides andantibodies directed to polypeptides of the present invention are usefulto provide immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) (e.g., immunohistochemistry assays) or cell type(s) (e.g.,immunocytochemistry assays). In addition, for a number of disorders ofthe above tissues or cells, significantly higher or lower levels of geneexpression of the polynucleotides/polypeptides of the present inventionmay be detected in certain tissues (e.g., tissues expressingpolypeptides and/or polynucleotides of the present invention and/orcancerous and/or wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,urine, synovial fluid or spinal fluid) taken from an individual havingsuch a disorder, relative to a “standard” gene expression level, i.e.,the expression level in healthy tissue from an individual not having thedisorder.

Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method of a disorder, whichinvolves: (a) assaying gene expression level in cells or body fluid ofan individual; (b) comparing the gene expression level with a standardgene expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in the assayedgene expression level compared to the standard expression level isindicative of a disorder.

In the very least, the polynucleotides of the present invention can beused as molecular weight markers on Southern gels, as diagnostic probesfor the presence of a specific mRNA in a particular cell type, as aprobe to “subtract-out” known sequences in the process of discoveringnovel polynucleotides, for selecting and making oligomers for attachmentto a “gene chip” or other support, to raise anti-DNA antibodies usingDNA immunization techniques, and as anantigen to elicit an immuneresponse.

Uses of the Polypeptides

Each of the polypeptides identified herein can be used in numerous ways.The following description should be considered exemplary and utilizesknown techniques.

Polypeptides and antibodies directed to polypeptides of the presentinvention are useful to provide immunological probes for differentialidentification of the tissue(s) (e.g., immunohistochemistry assays suchas, for example, ABC immunoperoxidase (Hsu et al., J. Histochem.Cytochem. 29:577-580 (1981)) or cell type(s) (e.g., immunocytochemistryassays).

Antibodies can be used to assay levels of polypeptides encoded bypolynucleotides of the invention in a biological sample using classicalimmunohistological methods known to those of skill in the art (e.g., seeJalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, et al.,J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other antibody-based methodsuseful for detecting protein gene expression include immunoassays, suchas the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and theradioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known in theart and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase; radioisotopes,such as iodine (¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ¹²¹I), carbon (¹⁴C), sulfur (³⁵S),tritium (³H), indium (^(115m)In, ^(113m)In, ¹¹²In, ¹¹¹In), andtechnetium (⁹⁹Tc, ^(99m)Tc), thallium (²⁰Ti), gallium (⁶⁸Ga, ⁶⁷Ga),palladium (¹⁰³Pd), molybdenum (⁹⁹Mo), xenon (¹³³Xe), fluorine (¹⁸F),¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁵⁹Gd, ¹⁴⁹Pm, ¹⁴⁰La, ¹⁷⁵Yb, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ⁹⁰Y, ⁴⁷Sc, ¹⁸⁶Re,¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁴²Pr, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ⁹⁷Ru; luminescent labels, such as luminol; andfluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

In addition to assaying levels of polypeptide of the present inventionin a biological sample, proteins can also be detected in vivo byimaging. Antibody labels or markers for in vivo imaging of proteininclude those detectable by X-radiography, NMR or ESR. ForX-radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes such as barium orcesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not overtly harmful tothe subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with adetectable characteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may beincorporated into the antibody by labeling of nutrients for the relevanthybridoma.

A protein-specific antibody or antibody fragment which has been labeledwith an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as a radioisotope(for example, ¹³¹I, ¹¹²In, ^(99m)Tc, (¹³¹I, ¹²⁵I, ¹²³I, ¹²¹I), carbon(¹⁴C), sulfur (³⁵S), tritium (³H), indium (^(115m)In, ^(113m)In, ¹¹²In,¹¹¹In), and technetium (⁹⁹Tc, ^(99m)Tc), thallium (²⁰¹Ti), gallium(⁶⁸Ga, ⁶⁷Ga), palladium (¹⁰³Pd), molybdenum (⁹⁹Mo), xenon (¹³³Xe),fluorine (¹⁸F, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁵⁹Gd, ¹⁴⁹ Pm, ¹⁴⁰La ¹⁷⁵Yb, ¹⁶⁶Ho, ⁹⁰Y,⁴⁷Sc, ¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁴²Pr, ¹⁰⁵Rh, ⁹⁷Ru), a radio-opaque substance, or amaterial detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, is introduced (forexample, parenterally, subcutaneously or intraperitoneally) into themammal to be examined for. immune system disorder. It will be understoodin the art that the size of the subject and the imaging system used willdetermine the quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnosticimages. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, thequantity of radioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to20 millicuries of ^(99m)Tc. The labeled antibody or antibody fragmentwill then preferentially accumulate at the location of cells whichexpress the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of the invention. Invivo tumor imaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al.,“Immunopharnacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments”(Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S.W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)).

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specificdelivery of compositions of the invention to cells by administeringpolypeptides of the invention (e.g., polypeptides encoded bypolynucleotides of the invention and/or antibodies) that are associatedwith heterologous polypeptides or nucleic acids. In one example, theinvention provides a method for delivering a therapeutic protein intothe targeted cell. In another example, the invention provides a methodfor delivering a single stranded nucleic acid (e.g., antisense orribozymes) or double stranded nucleic acid (e.g., DNA that can integrateinto the cell's genome or replicate episomally and that can betranscribed) into the targeted cell.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specificdestruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) byadministering polypeptides of the invention in association with toxinsor cytotoxic prodrugs.

By “toxin” is meant one or more compounds that bind and activateendogenous cytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins,modified toxins, catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules orenzymes not normally present in or on the surface of a cell that underdefined conditions cause the cell's death. Toxins that may be usedaccording to the methods of the invention include, but are not limitedto, radioisotopes known in the art, compounds such as, for example;antibodies (or complement fixing containing portions thereof) that bindan inherent or induced endogenous cytotoxic effector system, thyrnidinekinase, endonuclease, RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonasexotoxin A, diphtheria toxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweedantiviral protein, alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. “Toxin” also includesa cytostatic or cytocidal agent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactivemetal ion, e.g., alpha-emitters such as, for example, ²¹³Bi, or otherradioisotopes such as, for example, ¹⁰³Pd, ¹³³Xe, ¹³¹I, ⁶⁸Ge, ⁵⁷Co,⁶⁵Zn, ⁸⁵Sr, ³²P, ³⁵S, ⁹⁰Y, ¹⁵³Sm, ¹⁵³Gd, ¹⁶⁹Yb, ⁵¹Cr, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁷⁵Se, ¹¹³Sn,⁹⁰Yttrium, ¹¹⁷Tin, ¹⁸⁶Rhenium, ¹⁶⁶Holmium, and ¹⁸⁸Rhenium; luminescentlabels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such as fluorescein andrhodamine, and biotin.

Techniques known in the art may be applied to label polypeptides of theinvention (including antibodies). Such techniques include, but are notlimited to, the use of bifunctional conjugating agents (see e.g., U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,756,065; 5,714,631; 5,696,239; 5,652,361; 5,505,931;5,489,425; 5,435,990; 5,428,139; 5,342,604; 5,274,119; 4,994,560; and5,808,003; the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety).

Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method of a disorder, whichinvolves (a) assaying the expression level of a polypeptide of thepresent invention in cells or body fluid of an individual; and (b)comparing the assayed polypeptide expression level with a standardpolypeptide expression level, whereby an increase or decrease in theassayed polypeptide expression level compared to the standard expressionlevel is indicative of a disorder. With respect to cancer, the presenceof a relatively high amount of transcript in biopsied tissue from anindividual may indicate a predisposition for the development of thedisease, or may provide a means for detecting the disease prior to theappearance of actual clinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis ofthis type may allow health professionals to employ preventative measuresor aggressive treatment earlier thereby preventing the development orfurther progression of the cancer.

Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention can be used to treat orprevent diseases or conditions such as, for example, neural disorders,immune system disorders, muscular disorders, reproductive disorders,gastrointestinal disorders, pulmonary disorders, cardiovasculardisorders, renal disorders, proliferative disorders, and/or cancerousdiseases and conditions. For example, patients can be administered apolypeptide of the present invention in an effort to replace absentordecreased levels of the polypeptide (e.g., insulin), to supplementabsent or decreased levels of a different polypeptide (e.g., hemoglobinS for hemoglobin B, SOD, catalase, DNA repair proteins), to inhibit theactivity of a polypeptide (e.g., an oncogene or tumor supressor), toactivate the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., by binding to a receptor),to reduce the activity of a membrane bound receptor by competing with itfor free ligand (e.g., soluble TNF receptors used in reducinginflammation), or to bring about a desired response (e.g., blood vesselgrowth inhibition, enhancement of the immune response to proliferativecells or tissues).

Similarly, antibodies directed to a polypeptide of the present inventioncan also be used to treat disease (as described supra, and elsewhereherein). For example, administration of an antibody directed to apolypeptide of the present invention can bind, and/or neutralize thepolypeptide, and/or reduce overproduction of the polypeptide. Similarly,administration of an antibody can activate the polypeptide, such as bybinding to a polypeptide bound to a membrane (receptor).

At the very least, the polypeptides of the present invention can be usedas molecular weight markers on SDS-PAGE gels or on molecular sieve gelfiltration columns using methods well known to those of skill in theart. Polypeptides can also be used to raise antibodies, which in turnare used to measure protein expression from a recombinant cell, as a wayof assessing transformation of the host cell. Moreover, the polypeptidesof the present invention can be used to test the following biologicalactivities.

Diagnostic Assays

The compounds of the present invention are useful for diagnosis,treatment, prevention and/or prognosis of various disorders in mammals,preferably humans. Such disorders include, but are not limited to,neural disorders (e.g., as described in “Neural Activity andNeurological Diseases” below), immune system disorders (e.g., asdescribed in “Immune Activity” below), muscular disorders (e.g., asdescribed in “Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases” below),reproductive disorders (e.g., as described in “Anti-AngiogenesisActivity” below), pulmonary disorders (e.g., as described in “ImmuneActivity” below), cardiovascular disorders (e.g. as described in“Cardiovascular Disorders” below), infectious diseases (e.g., asdescribed in “Infectious Disease” below), proliferative disorders (e.g.,as described in “Hyperproliferative Disorders”, “Anti-AngiogenesisActivity” and “Diseases at the Cellular Level” below), and/or cancerousdiseases and conditions (e.g., as described in “HyperproliferativeDisorders”, “Anti-Angiogenesis Activity” and “Diseases at the CellularLevel” below).

PTPase proteins are believed to be involved in biological activitiesassociated with cellular signaling, such as cellular proliferation,differentiation, survival, metabolism, movement and secretion.Accordingly, compositions of the invention (including polynucleotides,polypeptides and antibodies of the invention, and fragments and variantsthereof) may be used in the diagnosis, detection and/or treatment ofdiseases and/or disorders associated with aberrant cellular signalingactivity.

In preferred embodiments, compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides and antibodies of the invention, andfragments and variants thereof) may be used in the diagnosis, detectionand/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders relating to cancer andother proliferative disorders (e.g., chronic myelogenous leukemia and/or other diseases and disorders as decribed in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Diseases at the Cellular level” section, below), neuriteoutgrowth, cellular adhesion, tissue healing disorders, and immunesystem disorders (e.g., X-linked agammaglobulinemia, severe combinedimmunodeficiency, and/or diseases and disorders described in the “ImmuneActivity” section below).

In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose, prognoses prevent, and/ortreat disorders associated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptideof the invention is expressed, including the tissues disclosed in“Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention”, and/or one, two,three, four, five, or more tissues disclosed in Table 3, column 2(Library Code).

For a number of disorders, substantially altered (increased ordecreased) levels of PTPase gene expression can be detected in tissues,cells or bodily fluids (e.g., sera, plasma, urine, semen, synovial fluidor spinal fluid) taken from an individual having such a disorder,relative to a “standard” PTPase gene expression level, that is, thePTPase expression level in tissues or bodily fluids from an individualnot having the disorder. Thus, the invention provides a diagnosticmethod useful during diagnosis of a disorder, which involves measuringthe expression level of the gene encoding the PTPase polypeptide intissues, cells or body fluid from an individual and comparing themeasured gene expression level with a standard PTPase gene expressionlevel, whereby an increase or decrease in the gene expression level(s)compared to the standard is indicative of a PTPase disorder. Thesediagnostic assays may be performed in vivo or in vitro, such as, forexample, on blood samples, biopsy tissue or autopsy tissue.

The present invention is also useful as a prognostic indicator, wherebypatients exhibiting enhanced or depressed PTPase gene expression willexperience a worse clinical outcome relative to patients expressing thegene at a level nearer the standard level.

By “assaying the expression level of the gene encoding the PTPasepolypeptide” is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuring orestimating the level of the PTPase polypeptide or the level of the mRNAencoding the PTPase polypeptide in a first biological sample eitherdirectly (e.g., by determining or estimating absolute protein level ormRNA level) or relatively (e.g., by comparing to the PTPase polypeptidelevel or mRNA level in a second biological sample). Preferably, thePTPase polypeptide expression level or mRNA level in the firstbiological samnple is measured or estimated and compared to a standardPTPase polypeptide level or mRNA level, the standard being taken from asecond biological sample obtained from an individual not having thedisorder or being determined by averaging levels from a population ofindividuals not having the disorder. As will be appreciated in the art,once a standard PTPase polypeptide level or mRNA level is known, it canbe used repeatedly as a standard for comparison.

By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtained froman individual, cell line, tissue culture, or other source containingPTPase polypeptides (including portions thereof) or mRNA. As indicated,biological samples include body fluids (such as sera, plasma, urine,synovial fluid and spinal fluid) and tissue sources found to express thefull length or fragments thereof of a PTPase polypeptide. Methods forobtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals are well known inthe art. Where the biological sample is to include mRNA, a tissue biopsyis the preferred source.

Total cellular RNA can be isolated from a biological sample using anysuitable technique such as the single-stepguanidinium-thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform method described inChomczynski and Sacchi, Anal. Biochem. 162:156-159 (1987). Levels ofmRNA encoding the PTPase polypeptides are then assayed using anyappropriate method. These include Northern blot analysis, S1 nucleasemapping, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), reverse transcription incombination with the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and reversetranscription in combination with the ligase chain reaction (RT-LCR).

The present invention also relates to diagnostic assays such asquantitative and diagnostic assays for detecting levels of PTPasepolypeptides, in a biological sample (e.g., cells and tissues),including determination of normal and abnormal levels of polypeptides.Thus, for instance, a diagnostic assay in accordance with the inventionfor detecting over-expression of PTPase polypeptides compared to normalcontrol tissue samples may be used to detect the presence of tumors.Assay techniques that can be used to determine levels of a polypeptide,such as a PTPase polypeptide of the present invention in a samplederived from a host are well-known to those of skill in the art. Suchassay methods include radioimmunoassays, competitive-binding assays,Western Blot analysis and ELISA assays. Assaying PTPase polypeptidelevels in a biological sample can occur using any art-known method.

Assaying PTPase polypeptide levels in a biological sample can occurusing antibody-based techniques. For example, PTPase polypeptideexpression in tissues can be studied with classical immunohistologicalmethods (Jalkanen et al., J. Cell. Biol. 101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen,M., et al., J. Cell Biol., 105:3087-3096 (1987)). Other antibody-basedmethods useful for detecting PTPase polypeptide gene expression includeimmunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) andthe radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assay labels are known inthe art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucose oxidase, andradioisotopes, such as iodine (¹²⁵I, ¹²¹I), carbon (¹⁴C), sulfur (³⁵S),tritium (³H), indium (¹¹²In), and technetium (^(99m)Tc), and fluorescentlabels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

The tissue or cell type to be analyzed will generally include thosewhich are known, or suspected, to express the PTPase gene (such as, forexample, cancer). The protein isolation methods employed herein may, forexample, be such as those described in Harlow and Lane (Harlow, E. andLane, D., 1988, “Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual”, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. The isolated cells can be derivedfrom cell culture or from a patient. The analysis of cells taken fromculture may be a necessary step in the assessment of cells that could beused as part of a cell-based gene therapy technique or, alternatively,to test the effect of compounds on the expression of the PTPase gene.

For example, antibodies, or fragments of antibodies, such as thosedescribed herein, may be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detectthe presence of PTPase gene products or conserved variants or peptidefragments thereof. This can be accomplished, for example, byimmunofluorescence techniques employing a fluorescently labeled antibodycoupled with light rnicroscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetricdetection.

In a preferred embodiment, antibodies, or fragments of antibodiesdirected to any one or all of the predicted epitope domains of the Pwasepolypeptides may be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detect thepresence of PTPase gene products or conserved variants or peptidefragments thereof. This can be accomplished, for example, byimmunofluorescence techniques employing a fluorescently labeled antibodycoupled with light microscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetricdetection.

In an additional preferred embodiment, antibodies, or fragments ofantibodies directed to a conformational epitope of a PTPase polypeptidemay be used to quantitatively or qualitatively detect the presence ofPTPase gene products or conserved variants or peptide fragments thereof.This can be accomplished, for example, by immunofluorescence techniquesemploying a fluorescently labeled antibody coupled with lightmicroscopic, flow cytometric, or fluorimetric detection.

The antibodies (or fragments thereof), and/or PTPase polypeptides of thepresent invention may, additionally, be employed histologically, as inimmunofluorescence, immunoelectron microscopy or non-immunologicalassays, for in situ detection of PTPase gene products or conservedvariants or peptide fragments thereof. In situ detection may beaccomplished by removing a histological specimen from a patient, andapplying thereto a labeled antibody or PTPase polypeptide of the presentinvention. The antibody (or fragment thereof) or PTPase polypeptide ispreferably applied by overlaying the labeled antibody (or fragment) ontoa biological sample. Through the use of such a procedure, it is possibleto determine not only the presence of the PTPase gene product, orconserved variants or peptide fragments, or PTPase polypeptide binding,but also its distribution in the examined tissue. Using the presentinvention, those of ordinary skill will readily perceive that any of awide variety of histological methods (such as staining procedures) canbe modified in order to achieve such in situ detection.

Immunoassays and non-immunoassays for PTPase gene products or conservedvariants or peptide fragments thereof will typically comprise incubatinga sample, such as a biological fluid, a tissue extract, freshlyharvested cells, or lysates of cells which have been incubated in cellculture, in the presence of a detectably labeled antibody capable ofbinding PTPase gene products or conserved variants or peptide fragmentsthereof, and detecting the bound antibody by any of a number oftechniques well-known in the art.

The biological sample may be brought in contact with and immobilizedonto a solid phase support or carrier such as nitrocellulose, or othersolid support which is capable of immobilizing cells, cell particles orsoluble proteins. The support may then be washed with suitable buffersfollowed by treatment with the detectably labeled anti-PTPasepolypeptide antibody or detectable PTPase polypeptide. The solid phasesupport may then be washed with the buffer a second time to removeunbound antibody or polypeptide. Optionally the antibody is subsequentlylabeled. The amount of bound label on solid support may then be detectedby conventional means.

By “solid phase support or carrier” is intended any support capable ofbinding an antigen or an antibody. Well-known supports or carriersinclude glass, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, dextran, nylon,amylases, natural and modified celluloses, polyacrylamides, gabbros, andmagnetite. The nature of the carrier can be either soluble to someextent or insoluble for the purposes of the present invention. Thesupport material may have virtually any possible structuralconfiguration so long as the coupled molecule is capable of binding toan antigen or antibody. Thus, the support configuration may bespherical, as in a bead, or cylindrical, as in the inside surface of atest tube, or the external surface of a rod. Alternatively, the surfacemay be flat such as a sheet, test strip, etc. Preferred supports includepolystyrene beads. Those skilled in the art will know many othersuitable carriers for binding antibody or antigen, or will be able toascertain the same by use of routine experimentation.

The binding activity of a given lot of anti-PTPase polypeptide antibodyor PTPase antigen polypeptide may be determined according to well knownmethods. Those skilled in the art.will be able to determine operativeand optimal assay conditions for each determination by employing routineexperimentation.

In addition to assaying PTPase polypeptide levels or polynucleotidelevels in a biological sample obtained from an individual, PTPasepolypeptide or polynucleotide can also be detected in vivo by imaging.For example, in one embodiment of the invention, PTPase polypeptideand/or anti-PTPase antigen antibodies are used to image diseased cells,such as neoplasms. In another embodiment, PTPase polynucleotides of theinvention (e.g., polynucleotides complementary to all or a portion of aparticular PTPase mRNA transcript) and/or anti-PTPase antibodies (e.g.,antibodies directed to any one or a combination of the epitopes of aPTPase polypeptide of the invention, antibodies directed to aconformational epitope of a PTPase polypeptide of the invention, orantibodies directed to the full length polypeptide expressed on the cellsurface of a mammalian cell) are used to image diseased or neoplasticcells.

Antibody labels or markers for in vivo imaging of PTPase polypeptidesinclude those detectable by X-radiography, NMR, MRI, CAT-scans or ESR.For X-radiography, suitable labels include radioisotopes such as bariumor cesium, which emit detectable radiation but are not overtly harmfulto the subject. Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with adetectable characteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may beincorporated into the antibody by labeling of nutrients for the relevanthybridoma. Where in vivo imaging is used to detect enhanced levels ofPTPase polypeptides for diagnosis in humans, it may be preferable to usehuman antibodies or “humanized” chimeric monoclonal antibodies. Suchantibodies can be produced using techniques described herein orotherwise known in the art. For example methods for producing chimericantibodies are known in the art. See, for review, Morrison, Science229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Cabilly et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP 171496; Morrison et al.,EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533; Robinson et al., WO 8702671;Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature314:268 (1985).

Additionally, any PTPase polypeptides whose presence can be detected,can be administered. For example, PTPase polypeptides labeled with aradio-opaque or other appropriate compound can be administered andvisualized in vivo, as discussed, above for labeled antibodies. Furthersuch PTPase polypeptides can be utilized for in vitro diagnosticprocedures.

A PTPase polypeptide-specific antibody or antibody fragment which hasbeen labeled with an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as aradioisotope (for example, ¹³¹I, ¹¹²In, ^(99m)Tc), a radio-opaquesubstance, or a material detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, isintroduced (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously orintraperitoneally) into the mammal to be examined for a disorder. Itwill be understood in the art that the size of the subject and theimaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moiety neededto produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotope moiety, fora human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected will normallyrange from about 5 to 20 millicuries of ^(99m)Tc. The labeled antibodyor antibody fragment will then preferentially accumulate at the locationof cells which contain PTPase protein. In vivo tumor imaging isdescribed in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics ofRadiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments” (Chapter 13 in TumorImaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A.Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982)).

With respect to antibodies, one of the ways in which the anti-PTPasepolypeptide antibody can be detectably labeled is by linking the same toa reporter enzyme and using the linked product in an enzyme immunoassay(EIA) (Voller, A., “The Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)”,1978, Diagnostic Horizons 2:1-7, Microbiological Associates QuarterlyPublication, Walkersville, MD); Voller et al., J. Clin. Pathol.31:507-520 (1978); Butler, J. E., Meth. Enzymol. 73:482-523 (1981);Maggio, E. (ed.), 1980, Enzyme Immunoassay, CRC Press, Boca Raton,Fla.,; Ishikawa, E. et al., (eds.), 1981, Enzyme Immunoassay, KgakuShoin, Tokyo). The reporter enzyme which is bound to the antibody willreact with an appropriate substrate, preferably a chromogenic substrate,in such a manner as to produce a chemical moiety which can be detected,for example, by spectrophotometric, fluorimetric or by visual means.Reporter enzymes which can be used to detectably label the antibodyinclude, but are not limited to, malate dehydrogenase, staphylococcalnuclease, delta-5-steroid isomerase, yeast alcohol dehydrogenase,alpha-glycerophosphate, dehydrogenase, triose phosphate isomerase,horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, asparaginase, glucoseoxidase, beta-galactosidase, ribonuclease, urease, catalase,glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucoamylase andacetylcholinesterase. Additionally, the detection can be accomplished bycolorimetric methods which employ a chromogenic substrate for thereporter enzyme. Detection may also be accomplished by visual comparisonof the extent of enzymatic reaction of a substrate in comparison withsimilarly prepared standards.

Detection may also be accomplished using any of a variety of other Lenlimmunoassays. For example, by radioactively labeling the antibodies orantibody fragments, it is possible to detect PTPase polypeptides throughthe use of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) (see, for example, Weintraub, B.,Principles of Radioinmmunoassays, Seventh Training Course on RadioligandAssay Techniques, The Endocrine Society, March, 1986, which isincorporated by reference herein). The radioactive isotope can bedetected by means including, but not limited to, a gamma counter, ascintillation counter, or autoradiography.

It is also possible to label the antibody with a fluorescent compound.When the fluorescently labeled antibody is exposed to light of theproper wave length, its presence can then be detected due tofluorescence. Among the most commonly used fluorescent labelingcompounds are fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, phycoerythrin,phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, ophthaldehyde and fluorescamine.

The antibody can also be detectably labeled using fluorescence emittingmetals such as ¹⁵²Eu, or others of the lanthanide series. These metalscan be attached to the antibody using such metal chelating groups asdiethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) or ethylenediam inetetraaceticacid (DTA).

The antibody also can be detectably labeled by coupling it to achemiluminescent compound. The presence of the chemiluminescent-taggedantibody is then determined by detecting the presence of luminescencethat arises during the course of a chemical reaction. Examples ofparticularly useful chemiluminescent labeling compounds are luminol,isoluminol, theromatic acridinium ester, imidazole, acridinium salt andoxalate ester.

Likewise, a bioluminescent compound may be used to label the antibody ofthe present invention. Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescencefound in biological systems in, which a catalytic protein increases theefficiency of the chemiluminescent reaction. The presence of abioluminescent protein is determined by detecting the presence ofluminescence. Important bioluminescent compounds for purposes oflabeling are luciferin, luciferase and aequorin.

Methods for Detecting Diseases

In general, a disease may be detected in a patient based on the presenceof one or more PTPase proteins of the invention and/or polynucleotidesencoding such proteins in a biological sample (for example, blood, sera,urine, and/or tumor biopsies) obtained from the patient. In other words,such proteins may be used as markers to indicate the presence or absenceof a disease or disorder, including cancer and/or as described elsewhereherein. In addition, such proteins may be useful for the detection ofother diseases and cancers. The binding agents provided herein generallypermit detection of the level of antigen that binds to the agent in thebiological sample. Polynucleotide primers and probes may be used todetect the level of mRNA encoding PTPase polypeptides, which is alsoindicative of the presence or absence of a disease or disorder,including cancer. In general, PTPase polypeptides should be present at alevel that is at least three fold higher in diseased tissue than innormal tissue.

There are a variety of assay formats known to those of ordinary skill inthe art for using a binding agent to detect polypeptide markers in asample. See, e.g., Harlow and Lane, supra. In general, the presence orabsence of a disease in a patient may be determined by (a) contacting abiological sample obtained from a patient with a binding agent; (b)detecting in the sample a level of polypeptide that binds to the bindingagent; and (c) comparing the level of polypeptide with a predeterminedcut-off value.

In a preferred embodiment, the assay involves the use of a bindingagent(s) immobilized on a solid support to bind to and remove the PTPasepolypeptide of the invention from the remainder of the sample. The boundpolypeptide may then be detected using a detection reagent that containsa reporter group and specifically binds to the binding agent/polypeptidecomplex. Such detection reagents may comprise, for example, a bindingagent that specifically binds to the polypeptide or an antibody or otheragent that specifically binds to the binding agent, such as ananti-immunoglobulin, protein G, protein A or a lectin. Alternatively, acompetitive assay may be utilized, in which a polypeptide is labeledwith a reporter group and allowed to bind to the immobilized bindingagent after incubation of the binding agent with the sample. The extentto which components of the sample inhibit the binding of the labeledpolypeptide to the binding agent is indicative of the reactivity of thesample with the immobilized binding agent. Suitable polypeptides for usewithin such assays include PTPase polypeptides and portions thereof, orantibodies, to which the binding agent binds, as described above.

The solid support may be any material known to those of skill in the artto which PTPase polypeptides of the invention may be attached. Forexample, the solid support may be a test well in a microtiter plate or anitrocellulose or other suitable membrane. Alternatively, the supportmay be a bead or disc, such as glass fiberglass, latex or a plasticmaterial such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride. The support may alsobe a magnetic particle or a fiber optic sensor, such as those disclosed,for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,359,681. The binding agent may beimmobilized on the solid support using a variety of techniques known tothose of skill in the art, which are amply descrileed in the patent andscientific literature. In the context of the present invention, the term“immobilization” refers to both noncovalent association, such asadsorption, and covalent attachment (which may be a direct linkagebetween the agent and functional groups on the support or may be alinkage by way of a cross-linking agent). Immobilization by adsorptionto a well in a microtiter plate or to a membrane is preferred. In suchcases, adsorption may be achieved by contacting the binding agent, in asuitable buffer, with the solid support for the suitable amount of time.The contact time varies with temperature, but is typically between about1 hour and about 1 day. In general, contacting a well of plasticmicrotiter plate (such as polystyrene or polyvinylchloride) with anamount of binding agent ranging from 10 ng to about 10 ug, andpreferably about 100 ng to about 1 ug, is sufficient to immobilize anadequate amount of binding agent.

Covalent attachment of binding agent to a solid support may generally beachieved by first reacting the support with a bifunctional reagent thatwill react with both the support and a functional group, such as ahydroxyl or amino group, on the binding agent. For example, the bindingagent may be covalently attached to supports having an appropriatepolymer coating using benzoquinone or by condensation of an aldehydegroup on the support with an amine and an active hydrogen on the bindingpartner (see, e.g., Pierce Immunotechnology Catalog and Handbook, 1991,at A12-A13).

Gene Therapy Methods

Another aspect of the present invention is to gene therapy methods fortreating or preventing disorders, diseases and conditions. The genetherapy methods relate to the introduction of nucleic acid (DNA, RNA andantisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to achieve expression ofthe polypeptide of the present invention. This method requires apolynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide of the present inventionoperatively linked to a promoter and any other genetic elementsnecessary for the expression of the polypeptide by the target tissue.Such gene therapy and delivery techniques are known in the art, see, forexample, WO90/11092, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Thus, for example, cells from a patient may be engineered with apolynucleotide (DNA or RNA) comprising a promoter operably linked to apolynucleotide of the present invention ex vivo, with the engineeredcells then being provided to a patient to be treated with thepolypeptide of the present invention. Such methods are well-known in theart. For example, see Belldegrun, A., et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 85:207-216 (1993); Ferrantini, M. et al., Cancer Research 53: 1107-1112(1993); Ferrantini, M. et al., J. Immunology 153: 4604-4615 (1994);Kaido, T., et al., Int. J. Cancer 60: 221-229 (1995); Ogura, H., et al.,Cancer Research 50: 5102-5106 (1990); Santodonato, L., et al., HumanGene Therapy 7:1-10 (1996); Santodonato, L., et al., Gene Therapy4:1246-1255 (1997); and Zhang, J.-F. et al., Cancer Gene Therapy 3:31-38 (1996)), which are herein incorporated by reference. In oneembodiment, the cells which are engineered are arterial cells. Thearterial cells may be reintroduced into the patient through directinjection to the artery, the tissues surrounding the artery, or throughcatheter injection.

As discussed in more detail below, the polynucleotide constructs can bedelivered by any method that delivers injectable materials to the cellsof an animal, such as, injection into the interstitial space of tissues(heart, muscle, skin, lung, liver, and the like). The polynucleotideconstructs may be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid oraqueous carrier.

In one embodiment, the polynucleotide of the present invention isdelivered as a naked polynucleotide. The term “naked” polynucleotide,DNA or RNA refers to sequences that are free from any delivery vehiclethat acts to assist, promote or facilitate entry into the cell,including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations,lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. However, thepolynucleotide of the present invention can also be delivered inliposome formulations and lipofectin formulations and the like can beprepared by methods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methodsare described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference.

The polynucleotide vector constructs used in the gene therapy method arepreferably constructs that will not integrate into the host genome norwill they contain sequences that allow for replication. Appropriatevectors include pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available fromStratagene; pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia; andpEF1/V5, pcDNA3.1, and pRc/CMV2 available from Invitrogen. Othersuitable vectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

Any strong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used fordriving the expression of the polynucleotide sequence. Suitablepromoters include adenoviral promoters, such as the adenoviral majorlate promoter, or heterologous promoters, such as the cytomegalovirus(CMV) promoter; the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) promoter;inducible promoters, such as the MMT promoter, the metallothioneinpromoter; heat shock promoters; the albumin promoter; the ApoAIpromoter; human globin promoters; viral thymidine kinase promoters, suchas the Herpes Simplex thymidine kinase promoter, retroviral LTRs; theb-actin promoter; and human growth hormone promoters. The promoter alsomay be the native promoter for the polynucleotide of the presentinvention.

Unlike other gene therapy techniques, one major advantage of introducingnaked nucleic acid sequences into target cells is the transitory natureof the polynucleotide synthesis in the cells. Studies have shown thatnon-replicating DNA sequences can be introduced into cells to provideproduction of the desired polypeptide for periods of up to six months.

The polynucleotide construct can be delivered to the interstitial spaceof tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain, lung,liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone,cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis,ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connectivetissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellular,fluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organtissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagenfibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissueensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly thespace occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid ofthe lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscletissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may beconveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising thesecells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent,non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery andexpression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completelydifferentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skinfibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in theirability to take up and express polynucleotides.

For the naked nucleic acid sequence injection, an effective dosageamount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 mg/kg bodyweight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be fromabout 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill willappreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site ofinjection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequencecan readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and maydepend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.

The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route ofinjection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, otherparenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosolformulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues,throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked DNAconstructs can be delivered to arteries during angioplasty by thecatheter used in the procedure.

The naked polynucleotides are delivered by any method known in the art,including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the deliverysite, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion,and so-called “gene guns”. These delivery methods are known in the art.

The constructs may also be delivered with delivery vehicles such asviral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin,precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in theart.

In certain embodiments, the polynucleotide constructs are complexed in aliposome preparation. Liposomal preparations for use in the instantinvention include cationic (positively charged), anionic (negativelycharged) and neutral preparations. However, cationic liposomes areparticularly preferred because a tight charge complex can be formedbetween the cationic liposome and the polyanionic nucleic acid. Cationicliposomes have been shown to mediate intracellular delivery of plasmidDNA (Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1987) 84:7413-7416,which is herein incorporated by reference); mRNA (Malone et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1989),86:6077-6081, which is herein incorporatedby reference); and purified transcription factors (Debs et al., J. Biol.Chem. (1990) 265:10189-10192, which is herein incorporated byreference), in functional form.

Cationic liposomes are readily available. For example,N[1-2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) liposomes areparticularly useful and are available under the trademark Lipofectin,from GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, N.Y. (See, also, Felgner et al., Proc.Natl Acad. Sci. USA (1987) 84:7413-7416, which is herein incorporated byreference). Other commercially available liposomes include transfectace(DDAB/DOPE) and DOTAP/DOPE (Boehringer).

Other cationic liposomes can be prepared from readily availablematerials using techniques well known in the art. See, e.g. PCTPublication No. WO 90/11092 (which is herein incorporated by reference)for a description of the synthesis of DOTAP(1,2-bis(oleoyloxy)-3-(trimethylammonio)propane) liposomes. Preparationof DOTMA liposomes is explained in the literature, see, e.g., P. Feigneret al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7417, which is hereinincorporated by reference._Similar methods can be used to prepareliposomes from other cationic lipid materials.

Similarly, anionic and neutral liposomes are readily available, such asfrom Avanti Polar Lipids (Birmingham, Ala.), or can be easily preparedusing readily available materials. Such materials include phosphatidyl,choline, cholesterol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG),dioleoylphoshatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), among others. These materialscan also be mixed with the DOTMA and DOTAP starting materials inappropriate ratios. Methods for making liposomes using these materialsare well known in the art.

For example, commercially dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC),dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) can be used in various combinations to makeconventional liposomes, with or without the addition of cholesterol.Thus, for example, DOPG/DOPC vesicles can be prepared by drying 50 mgeach of DOPG and DOPC under a stream of nitrogen gas into a sonicationvial. The sample is placed under a vacuum pump overnight and is hydratedthe following day with deionized water. The sample is then sonicated for2 hours in a capped vial, using a Heat Systems model 350 sonicatorequipped with an inverted cup (bath type) probe at the maximum settingwhile the bath is circulated at 15EC. Alternatively, negatively chargedvesicles can be prepared without sonication to produce multilamellarvesicles or by extrusion through nucleopore membranes to produceunilamellar vesicles of discrete size. Other methods are known andavailable to those of skill in the art.

The liposomes can comprise multilamellar vesicles (MLVs), smallunilamellar vesicles (SUVs), or large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), withSUVs being preferred. The various liposome-nucleic acid complexes areprepared using methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Straubinger etal., Methods of Immunology (1983), 101:512-527, which is hereinincorporated by reference. For example, MLVs containing nucleic acid canbe prepared by depositing a thin film of phospholipid on the walls of aglass tube and subsequently hydrating with a solution of the material tobe encapsulated. SUVs are prepared by extended sonication of MLVs toproduce a homogeneous population of unilamellar liposomes. The materialto be entrapped is added to a suspension of preformed MLVs and thensonicated. When using liposomes containing cationic lipids, the driedlipid film is resuspended in an appropriate solution such as sterilewater or an isotonic buffer solution such as 10 mM Tris/NaCl, sonicated,and then the preformed liposomes are mixed directly with the DNA. Theliposome and DNA form a very stable complex due to binding of thepositively charged liposomes to the cationic DNA. SUVs find use withsmall nucleic acid fragments. LUVs are prepared by a number of methods,well known in the art. Commonly used methods include Ca²⁺-EDTA chelation(Papahadjopoulos et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1975) 394:483; Wilsonet al., Cell (1979) 17:77); ether injection (Deamer, D. and Bangham, A.,Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1976) 443:629; Ostro et al., Biochem. Biophys.Res. Commun. (1977) 76:836; Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA(1979) 76:3348); detergent dialysis (Enoch, H. and Strittmatter, P.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1979) 76:145); and reverse-phase evaporation(REV) (Fraley et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1980) 255:10431; Szoka, F. andPapahadjopoulos, D., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1978) 75:145;Schaefer-Ridder et al., Science (1982) 215:166), which are hereinincorporated by reference.

Generally, the ratio of DNA to liposomes will be from about 10:1 toabout 1:10. Preferably, the ration will be from about 5:1 to about 1:5.More preferably, the ration will be about 3:1 to about 1:3. Still morepreferably, the ratio will be about 1: 1.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,954 (which is herein incorporated by reference)reports on the injection of genetic material, complexed with cationicliposomes carriers, into mice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,355, 4,946,787,5,049,386, 5,459,127, 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, andinternational publication no. WO 94/9469 (which are herein incorporatedby reference) provide cationic lipids for use in transfecting DNA intocells and mammals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859,5,703,055, and international publication no. WO 94/9469 (which areherein incorporated by reference) provide methods for deliveringDNA-cationic lipid complexes to mammals.

In certain embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo, usinga retroviral particle containing RNA which comprises a sequence encodinga polypeptide of the present invention. Retroviruses from which theretroviral plasmid vectors may be derived include, but are not limitedto, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus, spleen necrosis virus, Rous sarcomaVirus, Harvey Sarcoma Virus, avian leukosis virus, gibbon ape leukemiavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, Myeloproliferative Sarcoma Virus,and mammary tumor virus.

The retroviral plasmid vector is employed to transduce packaging celllines to form producer cell lines. Examples of packaging cells which maybe transfected include, but are not limited to, the PE501, PA317, R-2,R-AM, PA12, T19-14X, VT-19-17-H2, RCRE, RCRIP, GP+E-86, GP+envAm12, andDAN cell lines as described in Miller, Human Gene Therapy 1:5-14 (1990),which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The vectormay transduce the packaging cells through any means known in the art.Such means include, but are not limited to, electroporation, the use ofliposomes, and CaPO₄ precipitation. In one alternative, the retroviralplasmid vector may be encapsulated into a liposome, or coupled to alipid, and then administered to a host.

The producer cell line generates infectious retroviral vector particleswhich include polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention. Such retroviral vector particles then may be employed, totransduce eukaryotic cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The transducedeukaryotic cells will express a polypeptide of the present invention.

In certain other embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo,with polynucleotide contained in an adenovirus vector. Adenovirus can bemanipulated such that it encodes and expresses a polypeptide of thepresent invention, and at the same time is inactivated in terms of itsability to replicate in a normal lytic viral life cycle. Adenovirusexpression is achieved without integration of the viral DNA into thehost cell chromosome, thereby alleviating concerns about insertionalmutagenesis. Furthermore, adenoviruses have been used as live entericvaccines for many years with an excellent safety profile (Schwartz, A.R. et al. (1974) Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.109:233-238). Finally, adenovirusmediated gene transfer has been demonstrated in a number of instancesincluding transfer of alpha-1-antitrypsin and CFTR to the lungs ofcotton rats (Rosenfeld, M. A. et al. (1991) Science 252:431-434;Rosenfeld et al., (1992) Cell 68:143-155). Furthermore, extensivestudies to attempt to establish adenovirus as a causative agent in humancancer were uniformly negative (Green, M. et al. (1979) Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 76:6606).

Suitable adenoviral vectors useful in the present invention aredescribed, for example, in Kozarsky and Wilson, Curr. Opin. Genet.Devel. 3:499-503 (1993); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992);Engelhardt et al., Human Genet. Ther. 4:759-769 (1993); Yang et al.,Nature Genet. 7:362-369 (1994); Wilson et al., Nature 365:691-692(1993); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,224, which are herein incorporated byreference. For example, the adenovirus vector Ad2 is useful and can begrown in human 293 cells. These cells contain the E1 region ofadenovirus and constitutively express E1a and E1b, which complement thedefective adenoviruses by providing the products of the genes deletedfrom the vector. In addition to Ad2, other varieties of adenovirus(e.g., Ad3, Ad5, and Ad7) are also useful in the present invention.

Preferably, the adenoviruses used in the present invention arereplication deficient. Replication deficient adenoviruses require theaid of a helper virus and/or packaging cell line to form infectiousparticles. The resulting virus is capable of infecting cells and canexpress a polynucleotide of interest which is operably linked to apromoter, but cannot replicate in most cells. Replication deficientadenoviruses may be deleted in one or more of all or a portion of thefollowing genes: E1a, E1b, E3, E4, E2a, or L1 through L5.

In certain other embodiments, the cells are engineered, ex vivo or invivo, using an adeno-associated virus (AAV). AAVs are naturallyoccurring defective viruses that require helper viruses to produceinfectious particles (Muzyczka, N., Curr. Topics in Microbiol. Immnunol.158:97 (1992)). It is also one of the few viruses that may integrate itsDNA into non-dividing cells. Vectors containing as little as 300 basepairs of AAV can be packaged and can integrate, but space for exogenousDNA is limited to about 4.5 kb. Methods for producing and using suchAAVs are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,139,941,5,173,414, 5,354,678, 5,436,146, 5,474,935, 5,478,745, and 5,589,377.

For example, an appropriate AAV vector for use in the present inventionwill include all the sequences necessary for DNA replication,encapsidation, and host-cell integration. The polynucleotide constructis inserted into the AAV vector using standard cloning methods, such asthose found in Sanbrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,Cold Spring Harbor Press (1989). The recombinant AAV vector is thentransfected into packaging cells which are infected with a helper virus,using any standard technique, including lipofection, electroporation,calcium phosphate precipitation, etc. Appropriate helper viruses includeadenoviruses, cytomegaloviruses, vaccinia viruses, or herpes viruses.Once the packaging cells are transfected and infected, they will produceinfectious AAV viral particles which contain the polynucleotideconstruct. These viral particles are then used to transduce eukaryoticcells, either ex vivo or in vivo. The transduced cells will containthepolynucleotide construct integrated into its genome, and will express apolypeptide of the invention.

Another method of gene therapy involves operably associatingheterologous control regions and endogenous polynucleotide sequences(e.g. encoding a polypeptide of the present invention) via homologousrecombination (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997;International Publication No. WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996;International Publication No. WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994;Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); andZijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989). This method involves theactivation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which isnot normally expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower levelthan desired.

Polynucleotide constructs are made, using standard techniques known inthe art, which contain the promoter with targeting sequences flankingthe promoter. Suitable promoters are described herein. The targetingsequence is sufficiently complementary to an endogenous sequence topermit homologous recombination of the promoter-targeting sequence withthe endogenous sequence. The targeting sequence will be sufficientlynear the 5′ end of the desired endogeaous polynucleotide sequence so thepromoter will be operably linked to the endogenous sequence uponhomologous recombination.

The promoter and the targeting sequences can be amplified using PCR.Preferably, the amplified promoter contains distinct restriction enzymesites on the: 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the firsttargeting sequence contains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end of the second targetingsequence contains the same restriction site as the 3′ end of theamplified promoter. The amplified promoter and targeting sequences aredigested and ligated together.

The promoter-targeting sequence construct is delivered to the cells,either as naked polynucleotide, or in conjunction withtransfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences,viral particles, whole viruses, lipofection, precipitating agents, etc.,described in more detail above. The P promoter-targeting sequence can bedelivered by any method, included direct needle injection, intravenousinjection, topical administration, catheter infusion, particleaccelerators, etc. The methods are described in more detail below.

The promoter-targeting sequence construct is taken up by cells.Homologous recombination between the construct and the endogenoussequence takes place, such that an endogenous sequence is placed underthe control of the promoter. The promoter then drives the expression ofthe endogenous sequence.

Preferably, the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention contains a secretory signal sequence that facilitatessecretion of the protein. Typically, the signal sequence is positionedin the coding region of the polynucleotide to be expressed towards or atthe 5′ end of the coding region. The signal sequence may be homologousor heterologous to the polynucleotide of interest and may be homologousor heterologous to the cells to be transfected. Additionally, the signalsequence may be chemically synthesized using methods known in the art.

Any mode of administration of any of the above-described polynucleotidesconstructs can be used so long as the mode results in the expression ofone or more molecules in an amount sufficient to provide a therapeuticeffect. This includes direct needle injection, systemic injection,catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators (i.e.,“gene guns”), gelfoam sponge depots, other commercially available depotmaterials, osmotic pumps (e.g., Alza minipumps), oral or suppositorialsolid (tablet or pill) pharmaceutical formulations, and decanting ortopical applications during surgery. For example, direct injection ofnaked calcium phosphate-precipitated plasmid into rat liver and ratspleen or a protein-coated plasmid into the portal vein has resulted ingene expression of the foreign gene in the rat livers (Kaneda et al.,Science 243:375 (1989)).

A preferred method of local administration is by direct injection.Preferably, a recombinant molecule of the present invention complexedwith a delivery vehicle is administered by direct injection into orlocally within the area of arteries. Administration of a compositionlocally within the area of arteries refers to injecting the compositioncentimeters and preferably, millimeters within arteries.

Another method of local administration is to contact a polynucleotideconstruct of the present invention in or around a surgical wound. Forexample, a patient can undergo surgery and the polynucleotide constructcan be coated on the surface of tissue inside the wound or the constructcan be injected into areas of tissue inside the wound.

Therapeutic compositions useful in systemic administration, includerecombinant molecules of the present invention complexed to a targeteddelivery vehicle of the present invention. Suitable delivery vehiclesfor use with systemic administration comprise liposomes comprisingligands for targeting the vehicle to a particular site.

Preferred methods of systemic administration, include intravenousinjection, aerosol, oral and percutaneous (topical) delivery.Intravenous injections can be performed using methods standard in theart. Aerosol delivery can also be performed using methods standard inthe art (see, for example, Stribling et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA189:11277-11281, 1992, which is incorporated herein by reference). Oraldelivery can be performed by complexing a polynucleotide construct ofthe present invention to a carrier capable of withstanding degradationby digestive enzymes in the gut of an animal. Examples of such carriers,include plastic capsules or tablets, such as those known in the art.Topical delivery can be performed by mixing a polynucleotide constructof the present invention with a lipophilic reagent (e.g., DMSO) that iscapable of passing into the skin.

Determining an effective amount of substance to be delivered can dependupon a number of factors including, for example, the chemical structureand biological activity of the substance, the age and weight of theanimal, the precise condition requiring treatment and its severity, andthe route of administration. The frequency of treatments depends upon anumber of factors, such as the amount of polynucleotide constructsadministered per dose, as well as the health and history of the subject.The precise amount, number of doses, and timing of doses will bedetermined by the attending physician or veterinarian.

Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered toany animal, preferably to mammals and birds. Preferred mammals includehumans, dogs, cats, mice, rats, rabbits sheep, cattle, horses and pigs,with humans being particularly preferred.

Biological Activities

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention, can be used in assays to test for one or morebiological activities. If these polynucleotides or polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the present invention, do exhibit activity ina particular assay, it is likely that these molecules may be involved inthe diseases associated with the biological activity. Thus, thepolynucleotides and polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists could beused to treat the associated disease.

PTPase proteins are believed to be involved in biological activitiesassociated with cellular signaling, such as cellular proliferation,differentiation, survival, metabolism, movement and secretion.Accordingly, compositions of the invention (including polynucleotides,polypeptides and antibodies of the invention, and fragments and variantsthereof) may be used in the diagnosis, detection and/or treatment ofdiseases and/or disorders associated with aberrant cellular signalingactivity.

In preferred embodiments, compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides and antibodies of the invention, andfragments and variants thereof) may be used in the diagnosis, detectionand/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders relating to cancer andother proliferative disorders (e.g., chronic myelogenous leukemia and/or other diseases and disorders as decribed in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Diseases at the Cellular Level” section, below), neuriteoutgrowth, cellular adhesion, tissue healing disorders, and immunesystem disorders (e.g., X-linked agammaglobulinemia, severe combinedimmunodeficiency, and/or diseases and disorders described in the “ImmuneActivity” section below).

In certain embodiments, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose and/or prognose diseasesand/or disorders associated with thetissue(s) in which the polypeptideof the invention is expressed, including the tissues disclosed in“Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention”, and/or one, two,three, four, five, or more tissues disclosed in Table 3, column 2(Tissue Distribution).

More generally, polynucleotides, translation products and antibodiescorresponding to this gene may be useful for the diagnosis, detectionand/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders associated with thefollowing systems.

Immune Activity

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing diseases, disorders, and/orconditions of the immune system, by, for example, activating orinhibiting the proliferation, differentiation, or mobilization(chemotaxis) of immune cells. Immune cells develop through a processcalled hematopoiesis, producing myeloid (platelets, red blood cells,neutrophils, and macrophages) and lymphoid (B and T lymphocytes) cellsfrom pluripotent stem cells. The etiology of these immune diseases,disorders, and/or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer andsome autoimmune diseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy or toxins), orinfectious. Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used as a markeror detector of a particular immune system disease or disorder.

In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to treat diseases and disorders of theimmune system and/or to inhibit or enhance an immune response generatedby cells associated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of theinvention is expressed, including one, twoi three, four, five, or moretissues disclosed in Table 3, column 2 (Library Code).

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing, and/or prognosing immunodeficiencies, includingboth congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies. Examples of B cellimmunodeficiencies in which immunoglobulin levels B cell function and/orB cell numbers are decreased include: X-linked agammaglobulinemia(Bruton's disease), X-linked infantile agammaglobulinemia, X-linkedimmunodeficiency with hyper IgM, non X-linked immunodeficiency withhyper IgM, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP),agammaglobulinemnia including congenital and acquiredagammaglobulinemia, adult onset agammaglobulinemia, late-onsetagammaglobulinemia, dysgammaglobulinemia, hypogammaglobulinemia,unspecified hypogammnaglobulinernia, recessive agammaglobulinemia (Swisstype), Selective IgM deficiency, selective IgA deficiency, selective IgGsubclass deficiencies, IgG subclass deficiency (with or without IgAdeficiency), Ig deficiency with increased IgM, IgG and IgA deficiencywith increased IgM, antibody deficiency with normal or elevated Igs, Igheavy chain deletions, kappa chain deficiency, B celllymphoproliferative disorder (BLPD), common variable immunodeficiency(CVID), common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) (acquired), and transienthypogammaglobulinemia of infancy.

In specific embodiments, ataxia-telangiectasia or conditions associatedwith ataxia-telangiectasia are treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/orprognosing using the polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention,and/or agonists or antagonists thereof.

Examples of congenital immunodeficiencies in which T cell and/or B cellfunction and/or number is decreased include, but are not limited to:DiGeorge anomaly, severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) (including,but not limited to, X-linked SCID, autosomal recessive SCH), adenosinedeaminase deficiency, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency,Class II MHC deficiency (Bare lymphocyte syndrome), Wiskott-Aldrichsyndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia), thymic hypoplasia, third andfourth pharyngeal pouch syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion, chronicmucocutaneous candidiasis, natural killer cell deficiency (NK),idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia, immunodeficiency with predominant Tcell defect (unspecified), and unspecified immunodeficiency of cellmediated immunity.

In specific embodiments, DiGeorge anomaly or conditions associated withDiGeorge anomaly are treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosedusing polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention, or antagonistsor agonists thereof.

Other immunodeficiencies that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed,and/or prognosed using polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention,and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are not limited to,chronic granulomatous disease, Ché{acute over (,)}diak-Higashi syndrome,myeloperoxidase deficiency, leukocyte glucose6-phosphate dehydrogenasedeficiency, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), leukocyteadhesion deficiency, complement component deficiencies (including C1,C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 and/or C9 deficiencies), reticulardysgenesis, thymic alymphoplasia-aplasia, immunodeficiency with thymoma,severe congenital leukopenia, dysplasia with immunodeficiency, neonatalneutropenia, short limbed dwarfism, and Nezelof syndrome-combinedimmunodeficiency with Igs.

In a preferred embodiment, the immunodeficiencies and/or conditionsassociated with the immunodeficiencies recited above are treated,prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention.

In a preferred embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention could be used asan agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among immunodeficientindividuals. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among B celland/or T cell immunodeficient individuals.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing autoimmune disorders. Manyautoimmune disorders result from inappropriate recognition of self asforeign material by immune cells. This inappropriate recognition resultsin an immune response leading to the destruction of the host tissue.Therefore, the administration of polynucleotides and polypeptides of theinvention that can inhibit an immune response, particularly theproliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be aneffective therapy in preventing autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmune diseases or disorders that may be treated, prevented,diagnosed and/or prognosed by polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, one or more of the following: systemic lupuserythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiplesclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmunehemolytic anemia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, autoimmunethrombocytopenia purpura, autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia,idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, purpura (e.g., Henloch-Scoenleinpurpura), autoimmunocytopenia, Goodpasture's syndrome, Pemphigusvulgaris, myasthenia gravis, Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism), andinsulin-resistant diabetes mellitus.

Additional disorders that are likely to have an autoimmune componentthat may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with the compositionsof the invention include, but are not limited to, type IIcollagen-induced arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, dermatitis,allergic encephalomyelitis, myocarditis, relapsing polychondritis,rheumatic heart disease, neuritis, uveitis ophthalmia,polyendocrinopathies, Reiter's Disease, Stiff-Man Syndrome, autoimmunepulmonary inflammation, autism, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, insulindependent diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune inflammatory eye disorders.

Additional disorders that are likely to have an autoimmune componentthat may be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed with thecompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to,scleroderma with anti-collagen antibodies (often characterized, e.g., bynucleolar and other nuclear antibodies), mixed connective tissue disease(often characterized, e.g., by antibodies to extractable nuclearantigens (e.g., ribonucleoprotein)), polymyositis (often characterized,e.g., by nonhistone ANA), pernicious anemia (often characterized, e.g.,by antiparietal cell, microsomes, and intrinsic factor antibodies),idiopathic Addison's disease (often characterized, e.g., by humoral andcell-mediated adrenal cytotoxicity, infertility (often characterized,e.g., by antispermatozoal antibodies), glomerulonephritis (oftencharacterized, e.g., by glomerular basement membrane antibodies orimmune complexes), bullous pemphigoid (often characterized, e.g., by IgGand complement in basement membrane), Sjogren's syndrome (oftencharacterized, e.g., by multiple tissue antibodies, and/or a specificnonhistone ANA (SS-B)), diabetes mellitus (often characterized, e.g., bycell-mediated and humoral islet cell antibodies), and adrenergic drugresistance (including adrenergic drug resistance with asthma or cysticfibrosis) (often characterized, e.g., by beta-adrenergic receptorantibodies).

Additional disorders that may have an autoimmune component that may betreated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed with the compositions ofthe invention include, but are not limited to,chronic active hepatitis(often characterized, e.g., by smooth muscle antibodies), primarybiliary cirrhosis (often characterized, e.g., by mitochondriaantibodies), other endocrine gland failure (often characterized, e.g.,by specific tissue antibodies in some cases), vitiligo (oftencharacterized, e.g., by melanocyte antibodies), vasculitis (oftencharacterized, e.g., by Ig and complement in vessel walls and/or lowserum complement), post-MI (often characterized, e.g., by myocardialantibodies); cardiotomy syndrome (often characterized, e.g., bymyocardial antibodies); urticaria (often characterized, e.g., by IgG andIgM antibodies to IgE), atopic dermatitis (often characterized, e.g., byIgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), asthma (often characterized, e.g., byIgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), and many other inflammatory,granulomatous, degenerative, and atrophic disorders.

In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disorders and/orconditions associated with the diseases and disorders recited above aretreated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using for example,antagonists or agonists, polypeptides or polynucleotides, or antibodiesof the present invention. In a specific preferred embodiment, rheumatoidarthritis is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention.

In another specific preferred embodiment, systemic lupus erythematosusis treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention. In another specific preferred embodiment, idiopathicthrombocytopenia purpura is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed usingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention.

In another specific preferred embodiment IgA nephropathy is treated,prevented, and/or diagnosed using polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disorders and/orconditions associated with the diseases and disorders recited above aretreated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention

In preferred embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or his agonists or antagonists of the present invention are used asa immunosuppressive agent(s).

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, prognosing, and/or diagnosing diseases, disorders, and/orconditions of hematopoietic cells. Polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used to increase differentiation and proliferation ofhematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effortto treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditionsassociated with a decrease in certain (or many) types hematopoieticcells, including but not limited to, leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia,and thrombocytopenia. Alternatively, Polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used to increase differentiation and proliferation ofhematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effortto treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditionsassociated with an increase in certain (or many) types of hematopoieticcells, including but not limited to, histiocytosis.

Allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularly allergicasthma) or other respiratory problems, may also be treated, prevented,diagnosed and/or prognosed using polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereofMoreover, these molecules can be used to treat, prevent, prygnose,and/or diagnose anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity to an antigenic molecule,or blood group incompatibility.

Additionally, polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention, and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnoseand/or prognose IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Such allergic reactionsinclude, but are not limited to, asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. Inspecific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used to modulateIgE concentrations in vitro or in vivo.

Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention have uses in the diagnosis,prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions. Forexample, since polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides of theinvention, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention may inhibitthe activation, proliferation and/or differentiation of cells involvedin an inflammatory response, these molecules can be used to preventand/or treat chronic and acute inflammatory conditions. Suchinflammatory conditions include, but are not limited to, for example,inflammation associated with infection (e.g., septic shock, sepsis, orsystemic inflammatory response syndrome), ischemia-reperfusion injury,endotoxin lethality, complement-mediated hyperacute rejection,nephritis, cytokine or chemokine induced lung injury, inflammatory boweldisease, Crohn's disease, over production of cytokines (e.g., TNF orIL-1.), respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma and allergy);gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease); cancers(e.g., gastric, ovarian, lung, bladder, liver, and breast); CNSdisorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis; ischemic brain injury and/orstroke, traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders (e.g.,Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease); AIDS-related dementia; andprion disease); cardiovascular disorders (e.g., atherosclerosis,myocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and cardiopulmonary bypasscomplications); as well as many additional diseases, conditions, anddisorders that are characterized by inflammation (e.g., hepatitis,rheumatoid arthritis, gout, trauma, pancreatitis, sarcoidosis,dermatitis, renal ischemiareperfusion injury, Grave's disease, systemiclupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, and allogenic transplantrejection).

Because inflammation is a fundamental defense mechanism, inflammatorydisorders can effect virtually any tissue of the body. Accordingly,polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies of the invention, as wellas agonists or antagonists thereof, have uses in the treatment oftissue-specific inflammatory disorders, including, but not limited to,adrenalitis, alveolitis, angiocholecystitis, appendicitis, balanitis,blepharitis, bronchitis, bursitis, carditis, cellulitis, cervicitis,cholecystitis, chorditis, cochlitis, colitis, conjunctivitis, cystitis,dermatitis, diverticulitis, encephalitis, endocarditis, esophagitis,eustachitis, fibrositis, folliculitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis,gingivitis, glossitis, hepatosplenitis, keratitis, labyrinthitis,laryngitis, lymphangitis, mastitis, media otitis, meningitis, metritis,mucitis, myocarditis, myosititis, myringitis, nephritis, neuritis,orchitis, osteochondritis, otitis, pericarditis, peritendonitis,peritonitis, pharyngitis, phlebitis, poliomyelitis, prostatitis,pulpitis, retinitis, rhinitis, salpingitis, scleritis,sclerochoroiditis, scrotitis, sinusitis, spondylitis, steatitis,stomatitis, synovitis, syringitis, tendonitis, tonsillitis, urethritis,and vaginitis.

In specific embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides ofthe invention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, are useful todiagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat organ transplant rejectionsand graft-versus-host disease. Organ rejection occurs by host immunecell destruction of the transplanted tissue through an immune response.Similarly, an immune response is also involved in GVHD, but, in thiscase, the foreign transplanted immune cells destroy the host tissues.Polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides of the invention, and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, that inhibit an immune response,particularly the activation, proliferation, differentiation, orchemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapy in preventing organrejection or GVHD. In specific embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof, that inhibit an immune response, particularly the activation,proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be aneffective therapy in preventing experimental allergic and hyperacutexenograft rejection.

In other embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides ofthe invention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, are useful todiagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat immune complex diseases,including, but not limited to, serum sickness, post streptococcalglomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and immune complex-inducedvasculitis.

Polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonistsof the invention can be used to treat, detect, and/or prevent infectiousagents. For example, by increasing the immune response, particularlyincreasing the proliferation activation and/or differentiation of Band/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated, detected, and/orprevented. The immune response may be increased by either enhancing anexisting immune response, or by initiating a new immune response.Alternatively, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may also directlyinhibit the infectious agent (refer to section of application listinginfectious agents, etc), without necessarily eliciting an immuneresponse.

In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used as a vaccineadjuvant that enhances immune responsiveness to an antigen. In aspecific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used as an adjuvanttoenhance tumor-specific immune responses.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-viral immune responses.Anti-viral immune responses that may be enhanced using the compositionsof the invention as an adjuvant, include virus and virus associateddiseases or symptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. Inspecific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as anadjuvant to enhance an immune response to a virus, disease, or symptomselected from the group consisting of: AIDS, meningitis, Dengue, EBV,and hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In another specific embodiment, thecompositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance animmune response to a virus, disease, or symptom selected from the groupconsisting of: HIV/AIDS, respiratory syncytial virus, Dengue, rotavirus,Japanese B encephalitis, influenza A and B, parainfluenza, measles,cytomegalovirus, rabies, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley Fever, herpessimplex, and yellow fever.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immuneresponses. Anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immune responses that may beenhanced using the compositions of the invention as an adjuvant, includebacteria or fungus and bacteria or fungus associated diseases orsymptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. In specificembodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvantto enhance an immune response to a bacteria or fungus, disease, orsymptom selected from the group consisting of: tetanus, Diphtheria,botulism, and meningitis type B.

In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the invention areused as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a bacteria orfungus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of:Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium leprae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonellaparatyphi, Meisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group Bstreptococcus, Shigella spp., Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli,Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Borrelia burgdorferi.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-parasitic immune responses.Anti-parasitic immune responses that may be enhanced using thecompositions of the invention as an adjuvant, include parasite andparasite associated diseases or symptoms described herein or otherwiseknown in the art. In specific embodiments, the compositions of theinvention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to aparasite. In another specific embodiment, the compositions of theinvention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response toPlasmodium (malaria) or Leishmania.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay also be employed to treat infectious diseases including silicosis,sarcoidosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; for example, bypreventing the recruitment and activation of mononuclear phagocytes.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an antigen for the generation of antibodies to inhibit orenhance immune mediated responses against polypeptides of the invention.

In one embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are administered to ananimal (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, pigs, nicropig,chicken, camel, goat, horse, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate,and human, most preferably human) to boost the immune system to produceincreased quantities of one or more antibodies (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM, andIgE), to induce higher affinity antibody production and immunoglobulinclass switching (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE), and/or to increase animmune response.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a stimulator of B cell responsiveness to pathogens.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an activator of T cells.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent that elevates the immune status of an individualprior to their receipt of immunosuppressive therapies.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to induce higher affinity antibodies.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to increase serum immunoglobulin concentrations.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to accelerate recovery of immunocompromisedindividuals.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent,to boost immunoresponsiveness among agedpopulations and/or neonates.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an immune system enhancer prior to, during, or after bonemarrow transplant and/or other transplants (e.g., allogeneic orxenogeneic organ transplantation). With respect to transplantation,compositions of the invention may be administered prior to, concomitantwith, and/or after transplantation. In a specific embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered after transplantation,prior to the beginning of recovery of T-cell populations. In anotherspecific embodiment, compositions of the invention are firstadministered after transplantation after the beginning of recovery of Tcell populations, but prior to full recovery of B cell populations.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individualshaving an acquired loss of B cell function. Conditions resulting in anacquired loss of B cell function that may be ameliorated or treated byadministering the polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are not limited to, HIVInfection, AIDS, bone marrow transplant, and B cell chronic lymphocyticleukemia (CLL).

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individualshaving a temporary immune deficiency. Conditions resulting in atemporary immune deficiency that may be ameliorated or treated byadministering the polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are not limited to,recovery from viral infections (e.g., influenza), conditions associatedwith malnutrition, recovery from infectious mononucleosis, or conditionsassociated with stress, recovery from measles, recovery from bloodtransfusion, and recovery from surgery.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a regulator of antigen presentation by monocytes, dendriticcells, and/or B-cells. In one embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionenhance antigen presentation or antagonizes antigen presentation invitro or in vivo. Moreover, in related embodiments, said enhancement orantagonism of antigen presentation may be useful as an anti-tumortreatment or to modulate the immune system.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to direct an individual's immune system towardsdevelopment of a humoral response (i.e. TH2) as opposed to a TH1cellular response.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means to induce tumor proliferation and thus make it moresusceptible to anti-neoplastic agents. For example, multiple myeloma isa slowly dividing disease and is thus refractory to virtually allanti-neoplastic regimens. If these cells were forced to proliferate morerapidly their susceptibility profile would likely change.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a stimulator of B cell production in pathologies such asAIDS, chronic lymphocyte disorder and/or Common VariableImmunodificiency.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for generation and/or regeneration of lymphoidtissues following surgery, trauma or genetic defect. In another specificembodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention are used in the pretreatment ofbone marrow samples prior to transplant.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a gene-based therapy for genetically inherited disordersresulting in immuno-incompetence/immunodeficiency such as observed amongSCID patients.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of activating monocytesimacrophages to defendagainst parasitic diseases that effect monocytes such as Leishmania.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of regulating secreted cytokines that are elicitedby polypeptides of the invention.

In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used in one or moreof the applications decribed herein, as they may apply to veterinarymedicine.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of blocking various aspects of immune responses toforeign agents or self. Examples of diseases or conditions in whichblocking of certain aspects of immune responses may be desired includeautoimmune disorders such as lupus, and arthritis, as well asimmunoresponsiveness to skin allergies, inflammation, bowel diseaseinjury and diseases/disorders associated with pathogens.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for preventing the B cell proliferation and Igsecretion associated with autoimmune diseases such as idiopathicthrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiplesclerosis.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a inhibitor of B and/or T cell migration in endothelialcells. This activity disrupts tissue architecture or cognate responsesand is useful, for example in disrupting immune responses, and blockingsepsis.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for chronic hypergammaglobulinemia evident in suchdiseases as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS),Waldenstrom's disease, related idiopathic monoclonal gammopathies, andplasmacytomas.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be employed for instance to inhibit polypeptide chemotaxis andactivation of macrophages and their precursors, and of neutrophils,basophils, B lymphocytes and some T-cell subsets, e.g., activated andCD8 cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells, in certain autoimmuneand chronic inflammatory and infective diseases. Examples of autoimmunediseases are described herein and include multiple sclerosis, andinsulin-dependent diabetes.

The polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may also be employed to treatidiopathic hyper-eosinophilic syndrome by, for example, preventingeosinophil production and migration.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used to enhance or inhibit complement mediated cell lysis.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used to enhance or inhibit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay also be employed for treating atherosclerosis, for example, bypreventing monocyte infiltration in the artery wall.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be employed to treat adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be useful for stimulating wound and tissue repair, stimulatingangiogenesis, and/or stimulating the repair of vascular or lymphaticdiseases or disorders. Additionally, agonists and antagonists of theinvention may be used to stimulate the regeneration of mucosal surfaces.

In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/oragonists thereof are used to diagnose, prognose, treat, and/or prevent adisorder characterized by primary or acquired immunodeficiency,deficient serum immunoglobulin production, recurrent infections, and/orimmune system dysfunction. Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides,and/or agonists thereof may be used to treat or prevent infections ofthe joints, bones, skin, and/or parotid glands, blood-borne infections(e.g., sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis, and/or osteomyelitis),autoimmune diseases (e.g., those disclosed herein), inflammatorydisorders, and malignancies, and/or any disease or disorder or conditionassociated with these infections, diseases, disorders and/ormalignancies) including, but not limited to, CVID, other primary immunedeficiencies, HIV disease, CLL, recurrent bronchitis, sinusitis, otitismedia, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, meningitis, herpes zoster(e.g., severe herpes zoster), and/or pneumocystis carnii. Other diseasesand disorders that may be prevented, diagnosed, prognosed, and/ortreated with polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists of thepresent invention include, but are not limited to, HIV infection,HTLV-BLV infection, lymphopenia, phagocyte bactericidal dysfunctionanemia, thrombocytopenia, and hemoglobinunia.

In another embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used to treat,and/or diagnose an individual having common variable immunodeficiencydisease (“CVID”; also known as “acquired agammaglobulinemia” and“acquired hypogammaglobulinemia”) or a subset of this disease.

In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used todiagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat cancers or neoplasms includingimmune cell or immune tissue-related cancers or neoplasms. Examples ofcancers or neoplasms that may be prevented, diagnosed, or treated bypolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention include, but are not limited to,acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, Hodgkin'sdisease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute lymphocytic anemia (ALL) Chroniclymphocyte leukemia, plasmacytomas, multiple myeloma, Burkitt'slymphoma, EBV-transformed diseases, and/or diseases and disordersdescribed in the section entitled “Hyperproliferative Disorders”elsewhere herein.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for decreasing cellular proliferation of LargeB-cell Lymphomas.

In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides 4 ffi and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention are used as a means of decreasing the involvement of B cellsand Ig associated with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used asan agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among B cell immunodeficientindividuals, such as, for example, an individual who has undergone apartial or complete splenectomy.

Antagonists of the invention include, for example, binding and/orinhibitory antibodies, antisense nucleic acids, ribozymes or solubleforms of the polypeptides of the present invention (e.g., Fc fusionprotein; see, e.g., Example 9). Agonists of the invention include, forexample, binding or stimulatory antibodies, and soluble forms of thepolypeptides (e.g., Fc fusion proteins; see, e.g., Example 9).polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention may be employed in a composition with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, e.g., as described herein.

In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are administered to ananimal (including, but not limited to, those listed above, and alsoincluding transgenic animals) incapable of producing functionalendogenous antibody molecules or having an otherwise compromisedendogenous immune system, but which is capable of producing humanimmunoglobulin molecules by means of a reconstituted or partiallyreconstituted immune system from another animal (see, e.g., publishedPCT Application Nos. WO98/24893, WO/9634096, WO/9633735, andWO/9110741). Administration of polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention to such animalsis useful for the generation of monoclonal antibodies against thepolypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention.

Blood-Related Disorders

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to modulate hemostatic(the stopping of bleeding) or thrombolytic (clot dissolving) activity.For example, by increasing hemostatic or thrombolytic activity,polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention could be used to treat or prevent blood coagulationdiseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., afibrinogenemia, factordeficiencies, hemophilia), blood platelet diseases, disorders, and/orconditions (e.g., thrombocytopenia), or wounds resulting from trauma,surgery, or other causes. Alternatively, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention thatcan decrease hemostatic or thrombolytic activity could be used toinhibit or dissolve clotting. These molecules could be important in thetreatment or prevention of heart attacks (infarction), strokes, orscarring.

In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used toprevent, diagnose, prognose, and/or treat thrombosis, arterialthrombosis, venous thrombosis, thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism,atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack,unstable angina. In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be used for the prevention of occulsion of saphenousgrafts, for reducing the risk of periprocedural thrombosis as mightaccompany angioplasty procedures, for reducing the risk of stroke inpatients with atrial fibrillation including nonrheumatic atrialfibrillation, for reducing the risk of embolism associated withmechanical heart valves and or mitral valves disease. Other uses for thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention, include, but are not limited to,the prevention of occlusions in extrcorporeal devices (e.g.,intravascular canulas, vascular access shunts in hemodialysis patients,hemodialysis machines, and cardiopulmonary bypass machines).

In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to prevent, diagnose, prognose, and/ortreat diseases and disorders of the blood and/or blood forming organsassociated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the inventionis expressed, including one, two, three, four, five, or more tissuesdisclosed in Table 3, column 2 (Library Code).

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to modulatehematopoietic activity (the formation of blood cells). For example, thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to increase thequantity of all or subsets ofblood cells, such as, for example,erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g.,basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) andplatelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells orsubsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection,diagnosis and/or treatment of anemias and leukopenias described below.Alternatively, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used to decreasethe quantity of all or subsets of blood cells, such as, for example,erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g.,basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) andplatelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells orsubsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection,diagnosis and/or treatment of leukocytoses, such as, for exampleeosinophilia.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to prevent, treat, ordiagnose blood dyscrasia.

Anemias are conditions in which the number of red blood cells or amountof hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in them is below normal.Anemnia may be caused by excessive bleeding, decreased red blood cellproduction, or increased red blood cell destruction (hemolysis). Thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias. Anemias that may be treatedprevented or diagnosed by the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include irondeficiency anemia, hypochromic anemia, microcytic anemia, chlorosis,hereditary siderob;astic anemia, idiopathic acquired sideroblasticanemia, red cell aplasia, megaloblastic anemia (e.g., pernicious anemia,(vitamin B12 deficiency) and folic acid deficiency anemia), aplasticanemia, hemolytic anemias (e.g., autoimmune helolytic anemia,microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and paroxysmal nocturnalhemoglobinuria). The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful intreating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with diseasesincluding but not limited to, anemias associated with systemic lupuserythematosus, cancers, lymphomas, chronic renal disease, and enlargedspleens. The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonistsor antagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias arising from drug treatments suchas anemias associated with methyldopa, dapsone, and/or sulfadrugs.Additionally, rhe polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful intreating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with abnormalred blood cell architecture including but not limited to, hereditaryspherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase deficiency, and sickle cell anemia.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing hemoglobin abnormalities, (e.g., thoseassociated with sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin C disease, hemoglobin S-Cdisease, and hemoglobin E disease). Additionally, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/ortreating thalassemias, including, but not limited to major and minorforms of alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia.

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating bleeding disordersincluding, but not limited to, thrombocytopenia (e.g., idiopathicthrombocytopenic purpura, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic jurpura), VonWillebrand's disease, hereditary platelt disorders (e.g., storage pooldisease such as Chediak-Higashi and Hermansky-Pudlak syndromes,thromboxane A2 dysfunction, thromboasthenia, and Bemard-Souliersyndrome), hemolytic-uremic syndrome, hemophelias such as hemophelia Aor Factor VII deficiency and Christmas disease or Factor IX deficiency,Hereditary Hemorhhagic Telangiectsia, also known as Rendu-Osler-Webersyndrome, allergic purpura (Henoch Schonlein purpura) and disseminatedintravascular coagulation.

The effect of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention on the clotting time ofblood may be monitored using any of the clotting tests known in the artincluding, but not limited to, whole blood partial thromboplastin time(PTT), the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the activatedclotting time (ACT), the recalcified activated clotting time, or theLee-White Clotting time.

Several diseases and a variety of drugs can cause platelet dysfunction.Thus, in a specific embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingacquired platelet dysfunction such as platelet dysfunction accompanyingkidney failure, leukemia, multiple myeloma, cirrhosis of the liver, andsystemic lupus erythematosus as well as platelet dysfunction associatedwith drug treatments, including treatment with aspirin, ticlopidine,nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (used for arthritis, pain, andsprains), and penicillin in high doses.

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases anddisorders characterized by or associated with increased or decreasednumbers of white blood cells. Leukopenia occurs when the number of whiteblood cells decreases below normal. Leukopenias include, but are notlimited to, neutropenia and lymphocytopenia. An increase in the numberof white blood cells compared to normal is known as leukocytosis. Thebody generates increased numbers of white blood cells during infection.Thus, leukocytosis may simply be a normal physiological parameter thatreflects infection. Alternatively, leukocytosis may be an indicator ofinjury or other disease such as cancer. Leokocytoses, include but arenot limited to, eosinophilia, and accumulations of macrophages. Inspecific embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukopenia. In otherspecific embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukocytosis.

Leukopenia may be a generalized decreased in all types of white bloodcells, or may be a specific depletion of particular types of white bloodcells. Thus, in specific embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingdecreases in neutrophil numbers, known as neutropenia Neutropenias thatmay be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or Agonists orantagonists of the present invention include, but are not limited to,infantile genetic agranulocytosis, familial neutropenia, cyclicneutropenia, neutropenias resulting from or associated with dietarydeficiencies (e.g., vitamin B 12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency),neutropenias resulting from or associated with drug treatments (e.g.,antibiotic regimens such as penicillin treatment, sulfonamide treatment,anticoagulant treatment, anticonvulsant drugs, anti-thyroid drugs, andcancer chemotherapy), and neutropenias resulting from increasedneutrophil destruction that may occur in association with some bacterialor viral infections, allergic disorders, autoimmune diseases, conditionsin which an individual has an enlarged spleen (e.g., Felty syndrome,malaria and sarcoidosis), and some drug treatment regimens.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonistsof the present invention may be useful in diagnosing,prognosing, preventing, and/or treating lymphocytopenias (decreasednumbers of B and/or T lymphocytes), including, but not limitedlymphocytopenias resulting from or associated with stress, drugtreatments (e.g., drug treatment with corticosteroids, cancerchemotherapies, and/or radiation therapies), AIDS infection and/or otherdiseases such as, for example, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, systemiclupus erythematosus, chronic infections, some viral infections and/orhereditary disorders (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndome,severe combined immunodeficiency, ataxia telangiectsia).

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in diagnosing,prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disordersassociated with macrophage numbers and/or macrophage function including,but not limited to, Gaucher's disease, Niemann-Pick disease,Letterer-Siwe disease and Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases anddisorders associated with eosinophil numbers and/or eosinophil functionincluding, but not limited to, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome,eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, and Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.

In yet another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingleukemias and lymphomas including, but not limited to, acute lymphocytic(lymphpblastic) leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid (myelocytic, myelogenous,myeloblastic, or myelomonocytic) leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia(e.g., B cell leukemias, T cell leukemias, Sezary syndrome, and Hairycell leukenia), chronic myelocytic (myeloid, myelogenous, orgranulocytic) leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma,Burkitt's lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases anddisorders of plasma cells including, but not limited to, plasma celldyscrasias, monoclonal gammaopathies, monoclonal gammopathies ofundetermined significance, multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia,Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemiia, cryoglobulinemia, and Raynaud'sphenomenon.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful intreating, preventing, and/or diagnosing myeloproliferative disorders,including but not limited to, polycythemia vera, relative polycythemia,secondary polycythemia, myelofibrosis, acute myelofibrosis, agnogenicmyelod metaplasia, thrombocythemia, (including both primary and secondaythrombocythemia) and chronic myelocytic leukemia.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful asa treatment prior to surgery, to increase blood cell production.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodiesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful asan agent to enhance the migration, phagocytosis, superoxide production,antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity of neutrophils, eosionophilsand macrophages.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful asan agent to increase the number of stem cells in circulation prior tostem cells pheresis. In another specific embodiment, thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful as an agent toincrease the number of stem cells in circulation prior to plateletpheresis.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful asan agent to increase cytokine production.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful inpreventing, diagnosing, and/or treating primary hematopoietic disorders.

Hyperproliferative Disorders

In certain embodiments, polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the present invention can be used to treat or detecthyperproliferative disorders, including neoplasms. Polynucleotides orpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention mayinhibit the proliferation of the disorder through direct or indirectinteractions. Alternatively, Polynucleotides or polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may proliferate othercells which can inhibit the hyperproliferative disorder.

For example, by increasing an immune response, particularly increasingantigenic qualities of the hyperproliferative disorder or byproliferating, differentiating, or mobilizing T-cells,hyperproliferative disorders can be treated. This immune response may beincreased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or byinitiating a new immune response. Alternatively, decreasing an immuneresponse may also be a method of treating hyperproliferative disorders,such as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Examples of hyperproliferative disorders that can be treated or detectedby polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention include, but are not limited to neoplasms located inthe: colon, abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, liver, pancreas,peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary,testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous (centraland peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen,thorax, and urogenital tract.

Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also be treated ordetected by polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention. Examples of such hyperproliferative disordersinclude, but are not limited to: Acute Childhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia,Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Acute MyeloidLeukemia, Adrenocortical Carcinoma, Adult (Primary) HepatocellularCancer, Adult (Primary) Liver Cancer, Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia,Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Adult Hodgkin's Disease, Adult Hodgkin'sLymphoma, Adult Lymphocytic Leukemia, Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Adult Primary Liver Cancer, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, AIDS-RelatedLymphoma, AIDS-Related Malignancies, Anal Cancer, Astrocytoma, Bile DuctCancer, Bladder Cancer, Bone Cancer, Brain Stem Glioma, Brain Tumors,Breast Cancer, Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter, Central NervousSystem (Primary) Lymphoma, Central Nervous System Lymphoma, CerebellarAstrocytoma, Cerebral Astrocytoma, Cervical Cancer, Childhood (Primary)Hepatocellular Cancer, Childhood (Primary) Liver Cancer, Childhood AcuteLymphoblastic Leukemia, Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia, ChildhoodBrain Stem Glioma, Childhood Cerebellar Astrocytoma, Childhood CerebralAstrocytoma, Childhood Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors, ChildhoodHodgkin's Disease, Childhood Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Hypothalamicand Visual Pathway Glioma, Childhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia, ChildhoodMedulloblastoma, Childhood Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Pineal andSupratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors, Childhood Primary LiverCancer, Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma,Childhood Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma, Chronic LymphocyticLeukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Colon Cancer, Cutaneous T-CellLymphoma, Endocrine Pancreas Islet Cell Carcinoma, Endometrial Cancer,Ependymoma, Epithelial Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma andRelated Tumors, Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer, Extracranial Germ CellTumor, Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor, Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer, EyeCancer, Female Breast Cancer, Gaucher's Disease, Gallbladder Cancer,Gastric Cancer, Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor, GastrointestinalTumors, Germ Cell Tumors, Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor, Hairy CellLeukemia, Head and Neck Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Hodgkin'sDisease, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Hypergammaglobulinemia, HypopharyngealCancer, Intestinal Cancers, Intraocular Melanoma, Islet Cell Carcinoma,Islet Cell Pancreatic Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Kidney Cancer, LaryngealCancer, Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer,Lymphoproliferative Disorders, Macroglobulinemia, Male Breast Cancer,Malignant Mesothelioma, Malignant Thymoma, Medulloblastoma, Melanoma,Mesothelioma, Metastatic Occult Primary Squamous Neck Cancer, MetastaticPrimary Squamous Neck Cancer, Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, MultipleMyeloma, Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Neoplasm, MyelodysplasticSyndrome, Myelogenous Leukemia, Myeloid Leukemia, MyeloproliferativeDisorders, Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer, NasopharyngealCancer, Neuroblastoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. During Pregnancy,Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Occult PrimaryMetastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Osteo-/MalignantFibrous Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma,Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone, Ovarian EpithelialCancer, Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumor,Pancreatic Cancer, Paraproteinernias, Purpura, Parathyroid Cancer,Penile Cancer, Pheochromocytoma, Pituitary Tumor, Plasma CellNeoplasm/Multiple Myeloma, Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma,Primary Liver Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Rectal Cancer, Renal Cell Cancer,Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, Retinoblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma,Salivary Gland Cancer, Sarcoidosis Sarcomas, Sezary Syndrome, SkinCancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Intestine Cancer, Soft TissueSarcoma, Squamous Neck Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Supratentorial PrimitiveNeuroectodermal and Pineal Tumors, T-Cell Lymphoma, Testicular Cancer,Thymoma, Thyroid Cancer, Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvisand Ureter, Transitional Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, TrophoblasticTumors, Ureter and Renal Pelvis Cell Cancer, Urethral Cancer, UterineCancer, Uterine Sarcoma, Vaginal Cancer, Visual Pathway and HypothalamicGlioma, Vulvar, Cancer, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, Wilms' Tumor,and any other hyperproliferative disease, besides neoplasia, located inan organppystem listed above.

In another preferred embodiment, polynucleotides or polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used to diagnose,prognose, prevent, and/or treat premalignant conditions and to preventprogression to a neoplastic or malignant state, including but notlimited to those disorders described above. Such uses are indicated inconditions known or suspected of preceding progression to neoplasia orcancer, in particular, where non-neoplastic cell growth consisting ofhyperplasia, metaplasia, or most particularly, dysplasia has occurred(for review of such abnormal growth conditions, see Robbins and Angell,1976, Basic Pathology, 2d Ed., W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp.68-79.)

Hyperplasia is a form of controlled cell proliferation, involving anincrease in cell number in a tissue or organ, without significantalteration in structure or function. Hyperplastic disorders which can bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of theinvention (including polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists orantagonists) include, but are not limited to, angiofollicularmediastinal lymph node hyperplasia, angiolymphoid hyperplasia witheosinophilia, atypical melanocytic hyperplasia, basal cell hyperplasia,benign giant lymph node hyperplasia, cementum hyperplasia, congenitaladrenal hyperplasia, congenital sebaceous hyperplasia, cystichyperplasia, cystic hyperplasia of the breast, denture hyperplasia,ductal hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, fibromuscular hyperplasia,focal epithelial hyperplasia, gingival hyperplasia, inflammatory fibroushyperplasia, inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, intravascular papillaryendothelial hyperplasia, nodular hyperplasia of prostate, nodularregenerative hyperplasia, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, senilesebaceous hyperplasia, and verrucous hyperplasia.

Metaplasia is a form of controlled cell growth in which one type ofadult or fully differentiated cell substitutes for another type of adultcell. Metaplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed,prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists) include, but arenot limited to, agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, apocrine metaplasia,atypical metaplasia, autoparenchymatous metaplasia, connective tissuemetaplasia, epithelial metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, metaplasticanemia, metaplastic ossification, metaplastic polyps, myeloidmetaplasia, primary myeloid metaplasia, secondary myeloid metaplasia,squamous metaplasia, squamous metaplasia of amnion, and symptomaticmyeloid metaplasia.

Dysplasia is frequently a forerunner of cancer, and is found mainly inthe epithelia; it is the most disorderly form of non-neoplastic cellgrowth, involving a loss in individual cell uniformity and in thearchitectural orientation of cells. Dysplastic cells often haveabnormally large, deeply stained nuclei, and exhibit pleomorphism.Dysplasia characteristically occurs where there exists chronicirritation or inflammation. Dysplastic disorders which can be diagnosed,prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention(including polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists)include, but are not limited to, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia,anterofacial dysplasia, asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia, atriodigitaldysplasia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cerebral dysplasia, cervicaldysplasia, chondroectodermal dysplasia, cleidocranial dysplasia,congenital ectodermal dysplasia, craniodiaphysial dysplasia,craniocarpotarsal dysplasia, craniometaphysial dysplasia, dentindysplasia, diaphysial dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia, enamel dysplasia,encephalo-ophthalmic dysplasia, dysplasia epiphysialis hemimelia,dysplasia epiphysialis multiplex, dysplasia epiphysialis punctata,epithelial dysplasia, faciodigitogenital dysplasia, familial fibrousdysplasia of jaws, familial white folded dysplasia, fibromusculardysplasia, fibrous dysplasia of bone, florid osseous dysplasia,hereditary renal-retinal dysplasia, hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia,hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, lymphopenic thymic dysplasia, mammarydysplasia, mandibulofacial dysplasia, metaphysial dysplasia, Mondinidysplasia, monostotic fibrous dysplasia, mucoepithelial dysplasia,multiple epiphysial dysplasia, oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia,oculodentodigital dysplasia, oculovertebral dysplasia, odontogenicdysplasia, ophthalmomandibulomelic dysplasia, periapical cementaldysplasia, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, pseudoachondroplasticspondyloepiphysial dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, septo-optic dysplasia,spondyloepiphysial dysplasia, and ventriculoradial dysplasia.

Additional pre-neoplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed,prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists) include, but arenot limited to, benign dysproliferative disorders (e.g., benign tumors,fibrocystic conditions, tissue hypertrophy, intestinal polyps, colonpolyps, and esophageal dysplasia), leukoplakia, keratoses, Bowen'sdisease, Farmer's Skin, solar cheilitis, and solar keratosis.

In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose and/or prognose disordersassociated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the inventionis expressed, including one, two, three, four, five, or more tissuesdisclosed in Table 3, column 2 (Library Code).

In another embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention conjugated to a toxinor a radioactive isotope, as described herein, may be used to treatcancers and neoplasms, including, but not limited to those describedherein. In a further preferred embodiment, polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention conjugated to a toxin or a radioactive isotope, as describedherein, may be used to treat acute myelogenous leukemia.

Additionally, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists orantagonists of the invention may affect apoptosis, and therefore, wouldbe useful in treating a number of diseases associated with increasedcell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis. For example, diseasesassociated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosisthat could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated bypolynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, include cancers (such as follicular lymphomas, carcinomaswith p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors, including, but notlimited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma,retinoblastbma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicularcancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma,endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma,chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi'ssarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune disorders such as, multiplesclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliarycirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemiclupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoidarthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses andadenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graftrejection, and chronic graft rejection.

In preferred embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonistsor antagonists of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression,and/or metastasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cellsurvival that could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treatedby polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, progression, and/ormetastases of malignancies and related disorders such as leukemia(including acute leukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acutemyelocytic leukemia (including mycloblastic, promyelocytic,myelomonocytic, monocytic, and erythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias(e.g., chronic myelocytic (granulocytic) leukemia and chroniclymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin'sdisease and non-Hodgkin's disease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom'smacroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors including, butnot limited to, sarcomas and carcinomas such as fibrosarcoma,myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma,angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma,lymphangioendothelibsarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor,leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer,breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma,basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceousgland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas,cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renalcell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma,seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testiculartumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma,epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma,craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, emangioblastoma, acousticneuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, andretinoblastoma.

Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could be diagnosed,prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides, polypeptides,and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include AIDS;neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson'sdisease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitis pigmentosa, cerebellardegeneration and brain tumor or prior associated disease); autoimmunedisorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto'sthyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease,polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-relatedglomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes(such as aplastic anemia), graft v. host disease, ischemic injury (suchas that caused by myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury),liver injury (e.g., hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusioninjury, cholestosis (bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-inducedliver disease (such as that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexiaand anorexia.

Hyperproliferative diseases and/or disorders that could be diagnosed,prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides, polypeptides,and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include, but are notlimited to, neoplasms located in the liver, abdomen, bone, breast,digestive system, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal,parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, headand neck, nervous system (central and peripheral), lymphatic system,pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thorax, and urogenital tract.

Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also be diagnosed,prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides, polypeptides,and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention. Examples of suchhyperproliferative disorders include, but are not limited to:hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphoproliferative disorders, paraproteinemias,purpura, sarcoidosis, Sezary Syndrome, Waldenstron's macroglobulinemia,Gaucher's Disease; histiocytosis, and any other hyperproliferativedisease, besides neoplasia, located in an organ system listed above.

Another preferred embodiment utilizes polynucleotides of the presentinvention to inhibit aberrant cellular division, by gene therapy usingthe present invention, and/or protein fusions or fragments thereof.

Thus, the present invention provides a method for treating cellproliferative disorders by inserting into an abnormally proliferatingcell a polynucleotide of the present invention, wherein saidpolynucleotide represses said expression.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method oftreating cell-proliferative disorders in individuals comprisingadministration of one or more active gene copies of the presentinvention to an abnormally proliferating cell or cells. In a preferredembodiment, polynucleotides of the present invention is a DNA constructcomprising a recombinant expression vector effective in expressing a DNAsequence encoding said polynucleotides. In another preferred embodimentof the present invention, the DNA construct encoding the poynucleotidesof the present invention is inserted into cells to be treated utilizinga retrovirus, or more preferably an adenoviral vector (See G J. Nabel,et. al., PNAS 1999 96: 324-326, which is hereby incorporated byreference). In a most preferred embodiment, the viral vector isdefective and will not transform non-proliferating cells, onlyproliferating cells. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, thepolynucleotides of the present invention inserted into proliferatingcells either alone, or in combination with or fused to otherpolynucleotides, can then be modulated via an external stimulus (i.e.magnetic, specific small molecule, chemical, or drug administration,etc.), which acts upon the promoter upstream of said polynucleotides toinduce expression of the encoded protein product. As such the beneficialtherapeutic affect of the present invention may be expressly modulated(i.e. to increase, decrease, or inhibit expression of the presentinvention) based upon said external stimulus.

Polynucleotides of the present invention may be useful in repressingexpression of oncogenic genes or antigens. By “repressing expression ofthe oncogenic genes ” is intended the suppression of the transcriptionof the gene, the degradation of the gene transcript (pre-message RNA),the inhibition of splicing, the destruction of the messenger RNA, theprevention of the post-translational modifications of the protein, thedestruction of the protein, or the inhibition of the normal function ofthe protein.

For local administration to abnormally proliferating cells,polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered by anymethod known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited totransfection, electroporation, microinjection of cells, or in vehiclessuch as liposomes, lipofectin, or as naked polynucleotides, or any othermethod described throughout the specification. The polynucleotide of thepresent invention may be delivered by known gene delivery systems suchas, but not limited to, retroviral vectors (Gilboa, J. Virology 44:845(1982); Hocke, Nature 320:275 (1986); Wilson, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U.S.A. 85:3014), vaccinia virus system (Chakrabarty et al., Mol.Cell Biol. 5:3403 (1985) or other efficient DNA delivery systems (Yateset al., Nature 313:812 (1985)) known to those skilled in the art. Thesereferences are exemplary only and are hereby incorporated by reference.In order to specifically deliver or transfect cells which are abnormallyproliferating and spare non-dividing cells, it is preferable to utilizea retrovirus, or adenoviral (as described in the art and elsewhereherein) delivery system known to those of skill in the art. Since hostDNA replication is required for retroviral DNA to integrate and theretrovirus will be unable to self replicate due to the lack of theretrovirus genes needed for its life cycle. Utilizing such a retroviraldelivery. system for polynucleotides of the present invention willtarget said gene and constructs to abnormally proliferating cells andwill spare the nonividing normal cells.

The polynucleotides of the present invention may be delivered directlyto cell proliferative disorder/disease sites in internal organs, bodycavities and the like by use of imaging devices used to guide aninjecting needle directly to the disease site. The polynucleotides ofthe present invention may also be administered to disease sites at thetime of surgical intervention.

By “cell proliferative disease” is meant any human or animal disease ordisorder, affecting any one or any combination of organs, cavities, orbody parts, which is characterized by single or multiple local abnormalproliferations of cells, groups of cells, or tissues, whether benign ormalignant.

Any amount of the polynucleotides of the present invention may beadministered as long as it has a biologically inhibiting effect on theproliferation of the treated cells. Moreover, it is possible toadminister more than one of the polynucleotide of the present inventionsimultaneously to the same site. By “biologically inhibiting” is meantpartial or total growth inhibition as well as decreases in the rate ofproliferation or growth of the cells. The biologically inhibitory dosemay be determined by assessing the effects of the polynucleotides of thepresent invention on target malignant or abnormally proliferating cellgrowth in tissue culture, tumor growth in animals and cell cultures, orany other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention is further directed to antibody-based therapieswhich involve administering of anti-polypeptides and anti-polynucleotideantibodies to a mammalian, preferably human, patient for treating one ormore of the described disorders. Methods for producing anti-polypeptidesand anti-polynucleotide antibodies polyclonal and monoclonal antibodiesare described in detail elsewhere herein. Such antibodies may beprovided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the artor as described herein.

A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the present inventionmay be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotides orpolypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in thebody or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated bycomplement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approachesare described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use theantibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring ortherapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

In particular, the antibodies, fragments and derivatives of the presentinvention are useful for treating a subject having or developing cellproliferative and/or differentiation disorders as described herein. Suchtreatment comprises administering a single or multiple doses of theantibody, or a fragment, derivative, or a conjugate thereof.

The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilized incombination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or withlymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors, for example., which serveto increase the number or activity of effector cells which interact withthe antibodies.

It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivo inhibitingand/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides or polynucleotidesof the present invention, fragments or regions thereof, for bothimmunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related topolynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragements thereof, of thepresent invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, willpreferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides,including fragements thereof. Preferred binding affinities include thosewith a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻⁶M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10³¹ ⁷M,10⁻⁷M, 5×10⁻⁸M, 10⁻⁸M, 5×10⁻⁹M, 10⁻⁹M, 5×10⁻¹⁰M, 10⁻¹⁰M, 5×10⁻¹¹M,10⁻¹¹M, 5×10⁻¹²M, 10⁻¹²M, 5×10⁻¹³M, 10⁻¹³M, 5×10⁻¹⁴M, 10⁻¹⁴M, 5×10⁻¹⁵M,and 10⁻¹⁵M.

Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention are useful in inhibitingthe angiogenesis of proliferative cells or tissues, either alone, as aprotein fusion, or in combination with other polypeptides directly orindirectly, as described elsewhere herein. In a most preferredembodiment, said anti-angiogenesis effect may be achieved indirectly,for example, through the inhibition of hematopoietic, tumor-specificcells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (See Joseph IB, et al. JNatl Cancer Inst, 90(21):1648-53 (1998), which is hereby incorporated byreference). Antibodies directed to polypeptides or polynucleotides ofthe present invention may also result in inhibition of angiogenesisdirectly, or indirectly (See Witte L, et al., Cancer Metastasis Rev.17(2):155-61 (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference)).

Polypeptides, including protein fusions, of the present invention, orfragments thereof may be useful in inhibiting proliferative cells ortissues through the induction of apoptosis. Said polypeptides may acteither directly, or indirectly to induce apoptosis of proliferativecells and tissues, for example in the activation of a death-domainreceptor, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1, CD95(Fas/APO-1), TNF-receptor-related apoptosis-mediated protein (TRAMP) andTNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-1 and -2 (SeeSchulze-Osthoff K, et.al., Eur J Biochem 254(3):439-59 (1998), which ishereby incorporated by reference). Moreover, in another preferredembodiment of the present invention, said polypeptides may induceapoptosis through other mechanisms, such as in the activation of otherproteins which will activate apoptosis, or through stimulating theexpression of said proteins, either alone or in combination with smallmolecule drugs or adjuviants, such as apoptonin, galectins,thioredoxins, anti-inflammatory proteins (See for example, Mutat Res400(1-2):447-55 (1998), Med Hypotheses.50(5):423-33 (1998), Chem BiolInteract. Apr 24;111-112:23-34 (1998), J Mol Med.76(6):402-12 (1998),Int J Tissue React;20(1):3-15 (1998), which are all he incorporated byreference).

Polypeptides, including protein fusions to, or fragments thereof, of thepresent invention are useful in inhibiting the metastasis ofproliferative cells or tissues. Inhibition may occur as a direct resultof administering polypeptides, or antibodies directed to saidpolypeptides as described elsewere herein, or indirectly, such asactivating the expression of proteins known to inhibit metastasis, forexample alpha 4 integrins, (See, e.g., Curr Top Microbiol Immunol1998;231:125-41, which is hereby incorporated by reference). Suchthereapeutic affects of the present invention may be achieved eitheralone, or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuvants.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of deliveringcompositions containing the polypeptides of the invention (e.g.,compositions containing polypeptides or polypeptide antibodes associatedwith heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, orprodrugs) to targeted cells expressing the polypeptide of the presentinvention. Polypeptides or polypeptide antibodes of the invention may beassociated with with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleicacids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/orcovalent interactions.

Polypeptides, protein fusions to, or fragments thereof, of the presentinvention are useful in enhancing the immunogenicity and/or antigenicityof proliferating cells or tissues, either directly, such as would occurif the polypeptides of the present invention ‘vaccinated’ the immuneresponse to respond to proliferative antigens and immunogens, orindirectly, such as in activating the expression of proteins known toenhance the immune response (e.g. chemokines), to said antigens andimmunogens.

Renal Disorders

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may be used to treat, prevent,diagnose, and/or prognose disorders of the renal system. Renal disorderswhich can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated withcompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, kidneyfailure, nephritis, blood vessel disorders of kidney, metabolic andcongenital kidney disorders, urinary disorders of the kidney, autoimmunedisorders, sclerosis and necrosis, electrolyte imbalance, and kidneycancers.

Kidney diseases which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/ortreated with compositions of the invention include, but are not limitedto, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, atheroembolic renalfailure, end-stage renal disease, inflammatory diseases of the kidney(e.g., acute glomerulonephritis, postinfectious glomerulonephritis,rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, nephrotic. syndrome, membranousglomerulonephritis, familial nephrotic syndrome, membranoproliferativeglomerulonephritis I and II, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis,chronic glomerulonephritis, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, chronictubulointerstitial nephritis, acute post-streptococcalglomerulonephritis (PSGN), pyelonephritis, lupus nephritis, chronicnephritis, interstitial nephritis, and post-streptococcalglomerulonephritis), blood vessel disorders of the kidneys (e.g., kidneyinfarction, atheroembolic kidney disease, cortical necrosis, malignantnephrosclerosis, renal vein thrombosis, renal underperfusion, renalretinopathy, renal ischemia-reperfusion, renal artery embolism, andrenal artery stenosis), and kidney disorders resulting form urinarytract disease (e.g., pyelonephritis, hydronephrosis, urolithiasis (renallithiasis, nephrolithiasis), reflux nephropathy, urinary tractinfections, urinary retention, and acute or chronic unilateralobstructive uropathy.)

In addition, compositions of the invention can be used to diagnose,prognose, prevent, and/or treat metabolic and congenital disorders ofthe kidney (e.g., uremia, renal amyloidosis, renal osteodystrophy, renaltubular acidosis, renal glycosuria, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus,cystinuria, Fanconi's syndrome, renal fibrocystic osteosis (renalrickets), Hartnup disease, Bartter's syndrome, Liddle's syndrome,polycystic kidney disease, medullary cystic disease, medullary spongekidney, Alport's syndrome, nail-patella syndrome, congenital nephroticsyndrome, CRUSH syndrome, horseshoe kidney, diabetic nephropathy,nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, analgesic nephropathy, kidney stones,and membranous nephropathy), and autoimmune disorders of the kidney(e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Goodpasture syndrome, IgAnephropathy, and IgM mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis).

Compositions of the invention can also be used to diagnose, prognose,prevent, and/or treat sclerotic or necrotic disorders of the kidney(e.g., glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, focal segmentalglomerulosclerosis (FSGS), necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and renalpapillary necrosis), cancers of the kidney (e.g., nephroma,hypernephroma, nephroblastoma, renal cell cancer, transitional cellcancer, renal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell cancer, and Wilm's tumor),and electrolyte imbalances (e.g., nephrocalcinosis, pyuria, edema,hydronephritis, proteinuria, hyponatremia, hypernatremia; hypokalemia,hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, andhyperphosphatemia).

Polypeptides may be administered using any method known in the art,including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the deliverysite, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion,biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam sponge depots, othercommercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps, oral orsuppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting or topicalapplications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods are known inthe art. Polypeptides may be administered as part of a Therapeutic,described in more detail below. Methods of delivering polynucleotidesare described in more detail herein.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose cardiovascular disorders, including, but not limited to,peripheral artery disease, such as limb ischemia

Cardiovascular disorders include, but are not limited to, cardiovascularabnormalities, such as arterio-arterial fistula, arteriovenous fistula,cerebral arteriovenous malformations, congenital heart defects,pulmonary atresia, and Scimitar Syndrome. Congenital heart defectsinclude, but are not limited to, aortic coarctation, cor triatriatum,coronary vessel anomalies, crisscross heart, dextrocardia, patent ductusarteriosus, Ebstein's anomaly, Eisenmenger complex, hypoplastic leftheart syndrome, levocardia, tetralogy of fallot, transposition of greatvessels, double outlet right ventricle, tricuspid atresia, persistenttruncus arteriosus, and heart septal defects, such as aortopulmonaryseptal defect, endocardial cushion defects, Lutembacher's Syndrome,trilogy of Fallot, ventricular heart septal defects.

Cardiovascular disorders also include, but are not limited to, heartdisease, such as arrhythmias, carcinoid heart disease, high cardiacoutput, low cardiac output, cardiac tamponade, endocarditis (includingbacterial), heart aneurysm, cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure,congestive cardiomyopathy, paroxysmal dyspnea, cardiac edema, hearthypertrophy, congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy,right ventricular hypertrophy, post-infarction heart rupture,ventricular septal rupture, heart valve diseases, myocardial diseases,myocardial ischemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis (includingconstrictive and tuberculous), pneumopericardium, postpericardiotomysyndrome, pulmonary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, ventriculardysfunction, hyperemia, cardiovascular pregnancy complications, ScimitarSyndrome, cardiovascular syphilis, and cardiovascular tuberculosis.

Arrhythmias include, but are not limited to, sinus arrhythmia, atrialfibrillation, atrial flutter, bradycardia, extrasystole, Adams-StokesSyndrome, bundle-branch block, sinoatrial block, long QT syndrome,parasystole, Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome, Mahaim-type pre-excitationsyndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, sick sinus syndrome,tachycardias, and ventricular fibrillation. Tachycardias includeparoxysmal tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, acceleratedidioventricular rhythm, atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia,ectopic atrial tachycardia, ectopic junctional tachycardia, sinoatrialnodal reentry tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, Torsades de Pointes, andventricular tachycardia.

Heart valve diseases include, but are not limited to, aortic valveinsufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, hear murmurs, aortic valveprolapse, mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse, mitral valveinsufficiency, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary atresia, pulmonary valveinsufficiency, pulmonary valve stenosis, tricuspid atresia, tricuspidvalve insufficiency, and tricuspid valve stenosis.

Myocardial diseases include, but are not limited to, alcoholiccardiomyopathy, congestive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,aortic subvalvular stenosis, pulmonary subvalvular stenosis, restrictivecardiomyopathy, Chagas cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis,endomyocardial fibrosis, Kearns Syndrome, myocardial reperfusion injury,and myocarditis.

Myocardial ischemias include, but are not limited to, coronary disease,such as angina pectoris, coronary aneurysm, coronary arteriosclerosis,coronary thrombosis, coronary vasospasm, myocardial infarction andmyocardial stunning.

Cardiovascular diseases also include vascular diseases such asaneurysms, angiodysplasia, angiomatosis, bacillary angiomatosis,Hippel-Lindau Disease, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, Sturge-WeberSyndrome, angioneurotic edema, aortic diseases, Takayasu's Arteritis,aortitis, Leriche's Syndrome, arterial occlusive diseases, arteritis,enarteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, cerebrovascular disorders, diabeticangiopathies, diabetic retinopathy, embolisms, thrombosis,erythromelalgia, hemorrhoids, hepatic veno-occlusive disease,hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, peripheral vascular diseases,phlebitis, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, Raynaud's disease, CRESTsyndrome, retinal vein occlusion, Scimitar syndrome, superior vena cavasyndrome, telangiectasia, atacia telangiectasia, hereditary hemorrhagictelangiectasia, varicocele, varicose veins, varicose ulcer, vasculitis,and venous insufficiency.

Aneurysms include, but are not limited to, dissecting aneurysms, falseaneurysms, infected aneurysms, ruptured aneurysms, aortic aneurysms,cerebral aneurysms, coronary aneurysms, heart aneurysms, and iliacaneurysms.

Arterial occlusive diseases include, but are not limited to,arteriosclerosis, intermittent claudication, carotid stenosis,fibromuscular dysplasias, mesenteric vascular occlusion, Moyamoyadisease, renal artery obstruction, retinal artery occlusion, andthromboangiitis obliterans.

Cerebrovascular disorders include, but are not limited to, carotidartery diseases, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm,cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenousmalformation, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism andthrombosis, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg'ssyndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma,subaraxhnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia(including transient), subclavian steal syndrome, periventricularleukomalacia, vascular headache, cluster headache, migraine, andvertebrobasilar insufficiency.

Embolisms include, but are not limited to, air embolisms, amniotic fluidembolisms, cholesterol embolisms, blue toe syndrome, fat embolisms,pulmonary embolisms, and thromoboembolisms. Thrombosis include, but arenot limited to, coronary thrombosis, hepatic vein thrombosis, retinalvein occlusion, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis,Wallenberg's syndrome, and thrombophlebitis.

Ischemic disorders include, but are not limited to, cerebral ischemia,ischemic colitis, compartment syndromes, anterior compartment syndrome,myocardial ischemia, reperfusion injuries, and peripheral limb ischemia.Vasculitis includes, but is not limited to, aortitis, arteritis,Behcet's Syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, mucocutaneous lymph nodesyndrome, thromboangiitis obliterans, hypersensitivity vasculitis,Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, allergic cutaneous vasculitis, and Wegener'sgranulomatosis.

Polypeptides may be administered using any method known in the art,including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at the deliverysite, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheter infusion,biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam sponge depots, othercommercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps, oral orsuppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting or topicalapplications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods are known inthe art. Polypeptides may be administered as part of a Therapeutic,described in more detail below. Methods of delivering polynucleotidesare described in more detail herein.

Respiratory Disorders

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose diseases and/or disorders of the respiratory system.

Diseases and disorders of the respiratory system include, but are notlimited to, nasal vestibulitis, nonallergic rhinitis (e.g., acuterhinitis, chronic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis),nasal polyps, and sinusitis, juvenile angiofibromas, cancer of the noseand juvenile papillomas, vocal cord polyps, nodules (singer's nodules),contact ulcers, vocal cord paralysis, laryngoceles, pharyngitis (e.g.,viral and bacterial), tonsillitis, tonsillar cellulitis, parapharyngealabscess, laryngitis, laryngoceles, and throat cancers (e.g., cancer ofthe nasopharynx, tonsil cancer, larynx cancer), lung cancer (e.g.,squamous cell carcinoma, small cell (oat cell) carcinoma, large cellcarcinoma, and adenocarcinoma), allergic disorders (eosinophilicpneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (e.g., extrinsic allergicalveolitis, allergic interstitial pneumonitis, organic dustpneumoconiosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, asthma,Wegener's granulomatosis (granulomatous vasculitis), Goodpasture'ssyndrome)), pneumonia (e.g., bacterial pneumonia (e.g., Streptococcuspneumoniae (pneumoncoccal pneumonia), Staphylococcus aureus(staphylococcal pneumonia), Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia (causedby, e.g., Klebsiella and Pseudomas spp.), Mycoplasma pneunoniaepneumonia, Hemophilus influenzae pneumonia, Legionella pneumophila(Legionnaires' disease), and Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis)), andviral pneumonia (e.g., influenza, chickenpox (varicella).

Additional diseases and disorders of the respiratory system include, butare not limited to bronchiolitis, polio (poliomyelitis), croup,respiratory syncytial viral infection, mumps, erythema infectiosum(fifth disease), roseola infantum, progressive rubella panencephalitis,german measles, and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), fungalpneumonia (e.g., Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, Blastomycosis,fungal infections in people with severely suppressed immune systems(e.g., cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans; aspergillosis,caused by Aspergillus spp.; candidiasis, caused by Candida; andmucormycosis)), Pneumocystis carinii (pneumocystis pneumonia), atypicalpneumonias (e.g., Mycoplasma and Chlamydia spp.), opportunisticinfection pneumonia, nosocomial pneumonia, chemical pneumonitis, andaspiration pneumonia, pleural disorders (e.g., pleurisy, pleuraleffusion, and pneumothorax (e.g., simple spontaneous pneumothorax,complicated spontaneous pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax)),obstructive airway diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD), emphysema, chronic or acute bronchitis), occupationallung diseases (e.g., silicosis, black lung (coal workers'pneumoconiosis), asbestosis, berylliosis, occupational asthsma,byssinosis, and benign pneumoconioses), Infiltrative Lung Disease (e.g.,pulmonary fibrosis (e.g., fibrosing alveolitis, usual interstitialpneumonia), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, desquamative interstitialpneumonia, lymphoid interstitial pneumonia, histiocytosis X (e.g.,Letterer-Siwe disease, Hand-Schuller-Christian disease, eosinophilicgranuloma), idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, sarcoidosis andpulmonary alveolar proteinosis), Acute respiratory distress syndrome(also called, e.g., adult respiratory distress syndrome), edema,pulmonary embolism, bronchitis (e.g., viral, bacterial), bronchiectasis,atelectasis, lung abscess (caused by, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus orLegionella pneumophila), and cystic fibrosis.

Anti-Angiogenesis Activity

The naturally occurring balance between endogenous stimulators andinhibitors of angiogenesis is one in which inhibitory influencespredominate. Rastinejad et al., Cell 56:345-355 (1989). In those rareinstances in which neovascularization occurs under normal physiologicalconditions, such as wound healing, organ regeneration, embryonicdevelopment, and female reproductive processes, angiogenesis isstringently regulated and spatially and temporally delimited. Underconditions of pathological angiogenesis such as that characterizingsolid tumor growth, these regulatory controls fail. Unregulatedangiogenesis becomes pathologic and sustains progression of manyneoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. A number of serious diseases aredominated by abnormal neovascularization including solid tumor growthand metastases, arthritis, some types of eye disorders, and psoriasis.See, e.g., reviews by Moses et al., Biotech 9:630-634 (1991); Folkman etal., N. Engl. J. Med, 333:1757-1763 (1995); Auerbach et al., J.Microvasc. Res. 29:401-411 (1985); Folkman, Advances in Cancer Research,eds. Klein and Weinhouse, Academic Press, New York, pp. 175-203 (1985);Patz, Am. J. Opthalmol. 94:715-743 (1982); and Folkman et al., Science221:719-725 (1983). In a number of pathological conditions, the processof angiogenesis contributes to the disease state. For example,significant data have accumulated which suggest that the growth of solidtumors is dependent on angiogenesis. Folkman and Klagsbrun, Science235:442-447 (1987).

The present invention provides for treatment of diseases or disordersassociated with neovascularization by administration of thepolynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention. Malignant andmetastatic conditions which can be treated with the polynucleotides andpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention include, butare not limited to, malignancies, solid tumors, and cancers describedherein and otherwise known in the art (for a review of such disorders,see Fishman et al., Medicine, 2d Ed., J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia(1985)).Thus, the present invention provides a method of treating anangiogenesis-related disease and/or disorder, comprising administeringto an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of apolynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist of the invention.For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonistsmay be utilized in a variety of additional methods in order totherapeutically treat a cancer or tumor. Cancers which may be treatedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists include,but are not limited to solid tumors, including prostate, lung, breast,ovarian, stomach, pancreas, larynx, esophagus, testes, liver, parotid,biliary tract, colon, rectum, cervix, uterus, endometrium, kidney,bladder, thyroid cancer, primary tumors and metastases; melanomas;glioblastoma; Kaposi's sarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; non-small cell lungcancer; colorectal cancer, advanced malignancies; and blood born tumorssuch as leukemias. For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antagonists and/or agonists may be delivered topically, in order totreat cancers such as skin cancer, head and neck tumors, breast tumors,and Kaposi's sarcoma

Within yet other aspects, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonistsand/or agonists may be utilized to treat superficial forms of bladdercancer by, for example, intravesical administration. Polynucleotides,polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be delivered directly intothe tumor, or near the tumor site, via injection or a catheter. Ofcourse, as the artisan of ordinary skill will appreciate, theappropriate mode of administration will vary according to the cancer tobe treated. Other modes of delivery are discussed herein.

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may be usefulin treating other disorders, besides cancers, which involveangiogenesis. These disorders include, but are not limited to: benigntumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas,trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artheroscleric plaques; ocularangiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy ofprematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graft rejection, neovascularglaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, uvietis andPterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) of the eye; rheumatoidarthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing; endometriosis;vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars (keloids); nonunionfractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascular adhesions; myocardialangiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebral collaterals; arteriovenousmalformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis; Osler-Webber Syndrome; plaqueneovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma;fibromuscular dysplasia; wound granulation; Crohn's disease; andatherosclerosis.

For example, within one aspect of the present invention methods areprovided for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids, comprising thestep of administering a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/oragonist of the invention to a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

Within one embodiment of the present invention polynucleotides,polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists of the invention are directlyinjected into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, in order to prevent theprogression of these lesions. This therapy is of particular. value inthe prophylactic treatment of conditions which are known to result inthe development of hypertrophic scars and keloids (e.g., burns), and ispreferably initiated after the proliferative phase has had time toprogress (approximately, 14 days after the initial injury), but beforehypertrophic scar or keloid development. As noted above, the presentinvention also provides methods for treating neovascular diseases of theeye, including for example, corneal neovascularization; neovascularglaucoma, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasiaand macular degeneration.

Moreover, Ocular disorders associated with neovascularization which canbe treated with the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the presentinvention (including agonists and/or antagonists) include, but are notlimited to: neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinoblastoma,retrolental fibroplasia, uveitis, retinopathy of prematurity maculardegeneration, corneal graft neovascularization, as well as other eyeinflammatory diseases, ocular tumors and diseases associated withchoroidal or iris neovascularization. See, e.g., reviews by Waltman etal., Am. J. Ophthal. 85:704-710 (1978) and Gartner et al., Surv.Ophthal. 22:291-312 (1978).

Thus, within one aspect of the present invention methods are providedfor treating neovascular diseases of the eye such as cornealneovascularization (including corneal graft neovascularization),comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound (as described above) to the cornea, suchthat the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. Briefly, the comea isa tissue which normally lacks blood vessels. In certain pathologicalconditions however, capillaries may extend into the comea from thepericorneal vascular plexus of the limbus. When the cornea becomesvascularized, it also becomes clouded, resulting in a decline in thepatient's visual acuity. Visual loss may become complete if the corneacompletely opacitates. A wide variety of disorders can result in cornealneovascularization, including for example, corneal infections (e.g.,trachoma, herpes simplex keratitis, leishmaniasis and onchocerciasis),immunological processes (e.g., graft rejection and Stevens-Johnson'ssyndrome), alkali burns, trauma, inflammation (of any cause), toxic andnutritional deficiency states, and as a complication of wearing contactlenses.

Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, may beprepared for topical administration in saline (combined with any of thepreservatives and antimicrobial agents commonly used in ocularpreparations), and administered in eyedrop form. The solution orsuspension may be prepared in its pure form and administered severaltimes daily. Alternatively, anti-angiogenic compositions, prepared asdescribed above, may also be administered directly to the cornea. Withinpreferred embodiments, the anti-angiogenic composition is prepared witha muco-adhesive polymer which binds to cornea. Within furtherembodiments, the anti-angiogenic factors or anti-angiogenic compositionsmay be utilized as an adjunct to conventional steroid therapy. Topicaltherapy may also be useful prophylactically in corneal lesions which areknown to have a high probability of inducing an angiogenic response(such as chemical burns). In these instances the treatment, likely incombination with steroids, may be instituted immediately to help preventsubsequent complications.

Within other embodiments, the compounds described above may be injecteddirectly into the corneal stroma by an ophthalmologist under microscopicguidance. The preferred site of injection may vary with the morphologyof the individual lesion, but the goal of the administration would be toplace the composition at the advancing front of the vasculature (i.e.,interspersed between the blood vessels and the normal comea). In mostcases this would involve perilimbic corneal injection to “protect” thecornea from the advancing blood vessels. This method may also beutilized shortly after a corneal insult in order to prophylacticallyprevent corneal neovascularization. In this situation the material couldbe injected in the perilimbic cornea interspersed between the corneallesion and its undesired potential limbic blood supply. Such methods mayalso be utilized in a similar fashion to prevent capillary invasion oftransplanted corneas. In a sustained-release form injections might onlybe required 2-3 times per year. A steroid could also be added to theinjection solution to reduce inflammation resulting from the injectionitself.

Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided fortreating neovascular glaucoma, comprising the step of administering to apatient a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide,polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, such that theformation of blood vessels is inhibited. In one embodiment, the compoundmay be administered topically to the eye in order to treat early formsof neovascular glaucoma. Within other embodiments, the compound may beimplanted by injection into the region of the anterior chamber angle.Within other embodiments, the compound may also be placed in anylocation such that the compound is continuously released into theaqueous humor. Within another aspect of the present invention, methodsare provided for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, comprisingthe step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effectiveamount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist tothe eyes, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited.

Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention,proliferative diabetic retinopathy may be treated by injection into theaqueous humor or the vitreous, in order to increase the localconcentration of the polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/oragonist in the retina. Preferably, this treatment should be initiatedprior to the acquisition of severe disease requiring photocoagulation.

Within another aspect of the present invention, methods are provided fortreating retrolental fibroplasia, comprising the step of administeringto a patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polynucleotide,polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, such that theformation of blood vessels is inhibited. The compound may beadministered topically, via intravitreous injection and/or viaintraocular implants.

Additionally, disorders which can be treated with the polynucleotides,polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists include, but are not limited to,hemangioma, arthritis, psoriasis, angiofibroma, atherosclerotic plaques,delayed wound healing, granulations, hemophilic joints, hypertrophicscars, nonunion fractures, Osler-Weber syndrome, pyogenic granuloma,scleroderma, trachoma, and vascular adhesions.

Moreover disorders and/or states, which can be treated, prevented,diagnosed, and/or prognosed with the the polynucleotides, polypeptides,agonists and/or agonists of the invention include, but are not limitedto, solid tumors, blood born tumors such as leukemias, tumor metastasis,Kaposi's sarcoma, benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acousticneuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas, rheumatoidarthritis, psoriasis, ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabeticretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, cornealgraft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia,rubeosis, retinoblastoma, and uvietis, delayed wound healing,endometriosis, vascluogenesis, granulations, hypertrophic scars(keloids), nonunion fractures, scleroderma, trachoma, vascularadhesions, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary collaterals, cerebralcollaterals, arteriovenous malformations, ischemic limb angiogenesis,Osler-Webber Syndrome, plaque neovascularization, telangiectasia,hemophiliac joints, angiofibroma fibromuscular dysplasia, woundgranulation, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, birth control agent bypreventing vascularization required for embryo implantation controllingmenstruation, diseases that have angiogenesis as a pathologicconsequence such as cat scratch disease (Rochele minalia quintosa),ulcers (Helicobacter pylori), Bartonellosis and bacillary angiomatosis.

In one aspect of the birth control method, an amount of the compoundsufficient to block embryo implantation is administered before or afterintercourse and fertilization have occurred, thus providing an effectivemethod of birth control, possibly a “morning after” method.Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may also be usedin controlling menstruation or administered as either a peritoneallavage fluid or for peritoneal implantation in the treatment ofendometriosis.

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of the presentinvention may be incorporated into surgical sutures in order to preventstitch granulomas.

Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may be utilizedin a wide variety of surgical procedures. For example, within one aspectof the present invention a compositions (in the form of, for example, aspray or film) may be utilized to coat or spray an area prior to removalof a tumor, in order to isolate normal surrounding tissues frommalignant tissue, and/or to prevent the spread of disease to surroundingtissues. Within other aspects of the present invention, compositions(e.g., in the form of a spray) may be delivered via endoscopicprocedures in order to coat tumors, or inhibit angiogenesis in a desiredlocale. Within yet other aspects of the present invention, surgicalmeshes which have been coated with anti-angiogenic compositions of thepresent invention may be utilized in any procedure wherein a surgicalmesh might be utilized. For example, within one embodiment of theinvention a surgical mesh laden with an anti-angiogenic composition maybe utilized during abdominal cancer resection surgery (e.g., subsequentto colon resection) in order to provide support to the structure, and torelease an amount of the anti-angiogenic factor.

Within further aspects of the present invention, methods are providedfor treating tumor excision sites, comprising administering apolynucleotide, polypeptide, agonist and/or agonist to the resectionmargins of a tumor subsequent to excision, such that the localrecurrence of cancer and the formation of new blood vessels at the siteis inhibited. Within one embodiment of the invention, theanti-angiogenic compound is administered directly to the tumor excisionsite (e.g., applied by swabbing, brushing or otherwise coating theresection margins of the tumor with the anti-angiogenic compound).Alternatively, the anti-angiogenic compounds may be incorporated intoknown surgical pastes prior to administration. Within particularlypreferred embodiments of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compoundsare applied after hepatic resections for malignancy, and afterneurosurgical operations.

Within one aspect of the present invention, polynucleotides,polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may be administered to theresection margin of a wide variety of tumors, including for example,breast, colon, brain and hepatic tumors. For example, within oneembodiment of the invention, anti-angiogenic compounds may beadministered to the site of a neurological tumor subsequent to excision,such that the formation of new blood vessels at the site are inhibited.

The polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of thepresent invention may also be administered along with otheranti-angiogenic factors. Representative examples of otheranti-angiogenic factors include: Anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid andderivatives thereof, paclitaxel, Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor ofMetalloproteinase-1, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2,Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2,and various forms of the lighter “d group” transition metals.

Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example, vanadium,molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species. Suchtransition metal species may form transition metal complexes. Suitablecomplexes of the above-mentioned transition metal species include oxotransition metal complexes.

Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxo vanadiumcomplexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitable vanadatecomplexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes such as, forexample, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodiumorthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadylacetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydratessuch as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes alsoinclude oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstateand tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes includeammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, andtungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide andtungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes includemolybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitablemolybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodiummolybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates.Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum(VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include,for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten andmolybdenum cormplexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, forexample, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also be utilizedwithin the context of the present invention. Representative examplesinclude platelet factor 4; protamine sulphate; sulphated chitinderivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murata et al., CancerRes. 51:22-26, 1991); Sulphated Polysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex(SP-PG) (the function of this compound may be enhanced by the presenceof steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine;modulators of matrix metabolism, including for example, proline analogs,cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4-dehydroproline, Thiaproline,alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate;4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone;Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J.Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, 1992); Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al.,Biochem J. 286:475-480, 1992); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate;Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557,1990); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin.Invest. 79:1440-1446, 1987); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin(Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664, 1987); Bisantrene(National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium(N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”;Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, 1992); Thalidomide;Angostatic steroid; AGM-1470; carboxynaminolmidazole; andmetalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

Diseases at the Cellular Level

Diseases associated with increased cell survival or the inhibition ofapoptosis that could be treated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosedusing polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as antagonists oragonists of the present invention, include cancers (such as follicularlymphoraas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors,including, but not limited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreaticcancer, melanoma, retinoblastoma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinalcancer, testicular cancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma,lymphoma, endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma,chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi'ssarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune disorders (such as, multiplesclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliarycirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemiclupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoidarthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses andadenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graftrejection; and chronic graft rejection.

In preferred embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/orantagonists of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression,and/or metasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cellsurvival that could be treated or detected by polynucleotides orpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, progression, and/or metastases ofmalignancies and related disorders such as leukemia (including acuteleukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia(including myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, anderythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias (e.g., chronic myelocytic(granulocytic) leukemia and chronic lymphocytipc leukemia)),polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin'sdisease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chaindisease, and solid tumors including, but not limited to, sarcomas andcarcinomas such as fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma,chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma,endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma,synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma,rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cellcarcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous glandcarcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas,cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renalcell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma,seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testiculartumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma,epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma,craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acousticneuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, andretinoblastoma.

Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could be treated,prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognesed using polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as.well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, include, but are not limited to, AIDS; neurodegenerativedisorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's. disease,Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Retinitis pigmentosa, Cerebellardegeneration and brain tumor or prior associated disease); autoimmunedisorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto'sthyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease,polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-relatedglomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes(such as aplastic anemia), graft v. host disease, ischemic injury (suchas that caused by myocardial infarction, stroke and reperfusion injury),liver injury (e.g., hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusioninjury, cholestosis (bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-inducedliver disease (such as that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexiaand anorexia.

Wound Healing and Epithelial Cell Proliferation

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a process for utilizing polynucleotides or polypeptides aswell as agonists or antagonists of the present invention, fortherapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate epithelial cellproliferation and basal keratinocytes for the purpose of wound healing,and to stimulate hair follicle production and healing of dermal wounds.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, may be clinically useful in stimulating woundhealing including surgical wounds, excisional wounds, deep woundsinvolving damage of the dermis and epidermis, eye tissue wounds, dentaltissue wounds, oral cavity wounds, diabetic ulcers, dermal ulcers,cubitus ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, burns resultingfrom heat exposure or chemicals, and other abnormal wound healingconditions such as uremia, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies andcomplications associated with systemic treatment with steroids,radiation therapy and antineoplastic drugs and antimetabolites.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could be used to promote dermal, reestablishmentsubsequent to dermal loss

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could be used to increase the adherence of skingrafts to a wound bed and to stimulate re-epithelialization from thewound bed. The following are types of grafts that polynucleotides orpolypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the present invention, could beused to increase adherence to a wound bed: autografts, artificial skin,allografts, autodernic graft, autoepdermic grafts, avacular grafts,Blair-Brown grafts, bone graft, brephoplastic grafts, cutis graft,delayed graft, dermic graft, epidermic graft, fascia graft, fullthickness graft, heterologous graft, xenograft, homologous graft,hyperplastic graft, lamellar graft, mesh graft, mucosal graft,Ollier-Thiersch graft, omenpal graft, patch graft, pedicle graft,penetrating graft, split skin graft, thick split graft. Polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, can be used to promote skin strength and to improve theappearance of aged skin.

It is believed that polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonistsor antagonists of the present invention, will also produce changes inhepatocyte proliferation, and epithelial cell proliferation in the lung,breast, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could promote proliferation of epithelial cellssuch as sebocytes, hair follicles, hepatocytes, type II pneumocytes,mucin-producing goblet cells, and other epithelial cells and theirpvogenitors contained within the skin, lung, liver, and gastrointestinaltract. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention, may promote proliferation of endothelial cells,keratinocytes, and basal keratinocytes.

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could also be used to reduce the side effects ofgut toxicity that result from radiation, chemotherapy treatments orviral infections. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonistsor antagonists of the present invention, may have a cytoprotectiveeffect on the small intestine mucosa. Polynucleotides or polypeptides,as well as agonists or antagonists of the present invention, may alsostimulate healing of mucositis (mouth ulcers) that result fromchemotherapy and viral infections.

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of,the present invention, could further be used in full regeneration ofskin in full and partial thickness skin defects, including burns, (i.e.,repopulation of hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands),treatment of other skin defects such as psoriasis. Polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, could be used to treat epidermolysis bullosa, a defect inadherence of the epidermis to the underlying dermis which results infrequent, open and painful blisters by accelerating reepithelializationof these lesions. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonistsor antagonists of the present invention, could also be used to treatgastric and doudenal ulcers and help heal by scar formation of themucosal lining and regeneration of glandular mucosa and duodenal mucosallining more rapidly. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn'sdisease and ulcerative colitis, are diseases which result in destructionof the mucosal surface of the small or large intestine, respectively.Thus, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used to promote theresurfacing of the mucosal surface to aid more rapid healing and toprevent progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment withpolynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, is expected to have a significant effect on the production ofmucus throughout the gastrointestinal tract and could be used to protectthe intestinal mucosa from injurious substances that are ingested orfollowing surgery. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonistsor antagonists of the present invention, could be used to treat diseasesassociate with the under expression.

Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used to prevent and healdamage to the lungs due to various pathological states. Polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, which could stimulate proliferation and differentiation andpromote the repair of alveoli and brochiolar epithelium to prevent ortreat acute or chronic lung damage. For example, emphysema, whichresults in the progressive loss of aveoli, and inhalation injuries,i.e., resulting from smoke inhalation and burns, that cause necrosis ofthe bronchiolar epithelium and alveoli could be effectively treatedusing polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention. Also, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention, could be used tostimulate the proliferation of and differentiation of type IIpneumocytes, which may help treat or prevent disease such as hyalinemembrane diseases, such as infant respiratory distress syndrome andbronchopulmonary displasia, in premature infants.

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could stimulate the proliferation anddifferentiation of hepatocytes and, thus, could be used to alleviate ortreat liver diseases and pathologies such as fulminant liver failurecaused by cirrhosis, liver damage caused by viral hepatitis and toxicsubstances (i.e., acetaminophen, carbon tetraholoride and otherhepatotoxins known in the art).

In addition, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used treat or prevent theonset of diabetes mellitus. In patients with newly diagnosed Types I andII diabetes, where some islet cell function remains, polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, could be used to maintain the islet function so as toalleviate, delay or prevent permanent manifestation of the disease.Also, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used-as an auxiliary inislet cell transplantation to improve or promote islet cell function.

Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases

The polynucleotides, polypeptides and agonists or antagonists of theinvention may be used for the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases,disorders, damage or injury of the brain and/or nervous system. Nervoussystem disorders that can be treated with the compositions of theinvention (e.g., polypeptides, polynucleotides, and/or agonists orantagonists), include, but are not limited to, nervous system injuries,and diseases or disorders which result in either a disconnection ofaxons, a diminution or degeneration of neurons, or demyelination.Nervous system lesions which may be treated in a patient (includinghuman and non-human mammalian patients) according to the methods of theinvention, include but are not limited to, the following lesions ofeither the central (including spinal cord, brain) or peripheral nervoussystems: (1) ischemic lesions, in which a lack of oxygen in a portion ofthe nervous system results in neuronal injury or death, includingcerebral infarction or ischemia, or spinal cord infarction or ischemia;(2) traumatic lesions, including lesions caused by physical injury orassociated with surgery, for example, lesions which sever a portion ofthe nervous system, or compression injuries; (3) malignant lesions, inwhich a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured bymalignant tissue which is either a nervous system associated malignancyor a malignancy derived from non-nervous system tissue; (4) infectiouslesions, in which a portion of the nervous system is destroyed orinjured as a result of infection, for example, by an abscess orassociated with infection by human immunodeficiency virus, herpeszoster, or herpes simplex virus or with Lyme disease, tuberculosis, orsyphilis; (5) degenerative lesions, in which a portion of the nervoussystem is destroyed or injured as a result of a degenerative processincluding but not limited to, degeneration associated with Parkinson'sdisease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's chorea, or amiyotrophiclateral sclerosis (ALS); (6) lesions associated with nutritionaldiseases or disorders, in which a portion of the nervous: system isdestroyed or injured by a nutritional disorder or disorder of metabolismincluding, but not limited to, vitamin B12 deficiency, folic aciddeficiency, Wernicke disease, tobacco-alcohol amblyopia,Marchiafava-Bignami disease (primary degeneration of the corpuscallosum), and alcoholic cerebellar degeneration; (7) neurologicallesions associated with systemic diseases including, but not limited to,diabetes (diabetic neuropathy, Bell's palsy), systemic lupuserythematosus, carcinoma, or sarcoidosis; (8) lesions caused by toxicsubstances including alcohol, lead, or particular neurotoxins; and (9)demyelinated lesions in which a portion of the nervous system isdestroyed or injured by a demyelinating disease including, but notlimited to, multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus-associatedmyelopathy, transverse myelopathy or various etiologies, progressivemultifocal leukoencephalopathy, and central pontine myelinolysis.

In one embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to protect neural cells from thedamaging effects of hypoxia. In a further preferred embodiment, thepolypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention are used to protect neural cells from the damaging effects ofcerebral hypoxia. According to this embodiment, the compositions of theinvention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associatedwith cerebral hypoxia. In one non-exclusive aspect of this embodiment,the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associatedwith cerebral ischemia. In another non-exclusive aspect of thisembodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cellinjury associated with cerebral infarction.

In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, oragonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat or preventneural cell injury associated with a stroke. In a specific embodiment,the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention are used to treat or prevent cerebral neural cell injuryassociated with a stroke.

In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, oragonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat or preventneural cell injury associated with a heart attack. In a specificembodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat or prevent cerebralneural cell injury associated with a heart attack.

The compositions of the invention which are useful for treating orpreventing a nervous system disorder may be selected by testing forbiological activity in promoting the survival or differentiation ofneurons. For example, and not by way of limitation, compositions of theinvention which elicit any of the following effects may be usefulaccording to the invention: (1) increased survival time of neurons inculture either in the presence or absence of hypoxia or hypoxicconditions; (2) increased sprouting of neurons in culture or in vivo;(3) increased production of a neuron-associated molecule in culture orin vivo, e.g., choline acetyltransferase or acetylcholinesterase withrespect to motor neurons; or (4) decreased symptoms of neurondysfunction in vivo. Such effects may be measured by any method known inthe art. In preferred, non-limiting embodiments, increased survival ofneurons may routinely be measured using a method set forth herein orotherwise known in the art, such as, for example, in Zhang et al., ProcNatl Acad Sci USA 97:3637-42 (2000) or in Arakawa et al., J. Neurosci.,10:3507-15 (1990); increased sprouting of neurons may be detected bymethods known in the art, such as, for example, the methods set forth inPestronk et al., Exp. Neurol., 70:65-82 (1980), or Brown et al., Ann.Rev. Neurosci., 4:17-42 (1981); increased production ofneuron-associated molecules may be measured by bioassay, enzymaticassay, antibody binding, Northern blot assay, etc., using techniquesknown in the art and depending on the molecule to be measured; and motorneuron dysfunction may be measured by assessing the physicalmanifestation of motor neuron disorder, e.g., weakness, motor neuronconduction velocity, or functional disability.

In specific embodiments, motor neuron disorders that may be treatedaccording to the invention include, but are not limited to, disorderssuch as infarction, infection, exposure to toxin, trauma, surgicaldamage, degenerative disease or malignancy that may affect motor neuronsas well as other components of the nervous system, as well as disordersthat selectively affect neurons such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and including, but not limited to, progressive spinal muscular atrophy,progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis, infantile andjuvenile muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar paralysis of childhood(Fazio-Londe syndrome), poliomyelitis and the post polio syndrome, andHereditary Motorsensory Neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease).

Further, polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention may play arole in neuronal survival; synapse formation; conductance; neuraldifferentiation, etc. Thus, compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists) may be usedto diagnose and/or treat or prevent diseases or disorders associatedwith these roles, including, but not limited to, learning and/orcognition disorders. The compositions of the invention may also beuseful in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseasestates and/or behavioural disorders. Such neurodegenerative diseasestates and/or behavioral disorders include, but are not limited to,Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, TouretteSyndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsivedisorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism,and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns,balance, and perception. In addition, compositions of the invention mayalso play a role in the treatment, prevention and/or detection ofdevelopmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, orsexually-linked disorders.

Additionally, polypeptides, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the invention, may be useful in protecting neural cellsfrom diseases, damage, disorders, or injury, associated withcerebrovascular disorders including, but not limited to, carotid arterydiseases (e.g., carotid artery thrombosis, carotid stenosis, or MoyamoyaDisease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebralanoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformations,cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis (e.g.,carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, or Wallenberg's Syndrome),cerebral hemorrhage (e.g., epidural or subdural hematoma, orsubarachnoid hemorrhage), cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia (e.g.,transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian Steal Syndrome, orvertebrobasilar insufficiency), vascular dementia (e.g., multi-infarct),leukomalacia, periventricular, and vascular headache (e.g., clusterheadache or migraines).

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a process for utilizing polynucleotides or polypeptides, aswell as agonists or antagonists of the present invention, fortherapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulate neurological cellproliferation and/or differentiation. Therefore, polynucleotides,polypeptides, agonists and/or antagonists of the invention may be usedto treat and/or detect neurologic diseases. Moreover, polynucleotides orpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention, can be usedas a marker or detector of a particular nervous system disease ordisorder.

Examples of neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include brain diseases, such as metabolic braindiseases which includes phenylketonuria such as maternalphenylketonuria, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenasecomplex deficiency, Wernicke's Encephalopathy, brain edema, brainneoplasms such as cerebellar neoplasms which include infratentorialneoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexusneoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms, supratentorial neoplasms, canavandisease, cerebellar diseases such as cerebellar ataxia which includespinocerebellar degeneration such as ataxia telangiectasia, cerebellardyssynergia, Friederich's Ataxia, Machado-Joseph Disease,olivopontocerebellar atrophy, cerebellar neoplasms such asinfratentorial neoplasms, diffuse cerebral sclerosis such asencephalitis periaxialis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, metachromaticleukodystrophy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include cerebiovascular disorders (such as carotidartery diseases which include carotid artery thrombosis, carotidstenosis and Moyamoya Disease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebralaneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebralarteriovenous malformations, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolismand thrombosis such as carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis andWallenberg's Syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage such as epidural hematoma,subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction,cerebral ischemia such as transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian StealSyndrome and vertebrobasilar insufficiency, vascular dementia such asmulti-infarct dementia, periventricular leukomalacia, vascular headachesuch as cluster headache and migraine.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include dementia such as AIDS Dementia Complex,presenile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and Creutzfeldt-JakobSyndrome, senile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and progressivesupranuclear palsy, vascular dementia such as multi-infarct dementia,encephalitis which include encephalitis periaxialis, viral encephalitissuch as epidemic encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, St. LouisEncephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile Fever, acutedisseminated encephalomyelitis, meningoencephalitis such asuveomeningoencephalitic syndrome, Postencephalitic Parkinson Disease andsubacute sclerosing panencephalitis, encephalomalacia such asperiventricular leukomalacia, epilepsy such as generalized epilepsywhich includes infantile spasms, absence epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsywhich includes MERRF Syndrome, tonic-clonic epilepsy, partial epilepsysuch as complex partial epilepsy, frontal lobe epilepsy and temporallobe epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy, status epilepticus such asEpilepsia Partialis Continua, and Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include hydrocephalus such as Dandy-Walker Syndromeand normal pressure hydrocephalus, hypothalamic diseases such ashypothalamic neoplasms, cerebral malaria, narcolepsy which includescataplexy, bulbar poliomyelitis, cerebri pseudotumor, Rett Syndrome,Reye's Syndrome, thalamic diseases, cerebral toxoplasmosis, intracranialtuberculoma and Zellweger Syndrome, central nervous system infectionssuch as AIDS Dementia Complex, Brain Abscess, subdural empyema,encephalomyelitis such as Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis, Visna, andcerebral malaria.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include meningitis such as arachnoiditis, asepticmeningtitis such as viral meningtitis which includes lymphocyticchoriomeningitis, Bacterial meningtitis which includes HaemophilusMeningtitis, Listeria Meningtitis, Meningococcal Meningtitis such asWaterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, Pneumococcal Meningtitis and meningealtuberculosis, fungal meningitis such as Cryptococcal Meningtitis,subdural effusion, meningoencephalitis such as uvemeningoencephaliticsyndrome, myelitis such as transverse myelitis, neurosyphilis such astabes dorsalis, poliomyelitis which includes bulbar poliomyelitis andpostpoliomyelitis syndrome, prion diseases (such as Creutzfeldt-JakobSyndrome, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Gerstmann-StrausslerSyndrome, Kuru, Scrapie), and cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include central nervous system neoplasms such as brainneoplasms that include cerebellar neoplasms such as infratentorialneoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexusneoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms and supratentorial neoplasms,meningeal neoplasms, spinal cord neoplasms which include epiduralneoplasms, demyelinating diseases such as Canavan Diseases, diffusecerebral sceloris which includes adrenoleukodystrophy, encephalitisperiaxialis, globoid. cell leukodystrophy, diffuse cerebral sclerosissuch as metachromatic leukodystrophy, allergic encephalomyelitis,necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis, progressive multifocalleukoencephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, central pontine myelinolysis,transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica, Scrapie, Swayback, ChronicFatigue Syndrome, Visna, High Pressure Nervous Syndrome, Meningism,spinal cord diseases such as amyotonia congenita, amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy such as Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease,spinal cord compression, spinal cord neoplasms such as epiduralneoplasms, syringomyelia, Tabes Dorsalis, Stiff-Man Syndrome, mentalretardation such as Angelman Syndrome, Cri-du-Chat Syndrome, De Lange'sSyndrome, Down Syndrome, Gangliosidoses such as gangliosidoses G(M1),Sandhoff Disease, Tay-Sachs Disease, Hartnup Disease, homocystinuria,Laurence-Moon-Biedl Syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome, Maple Syrup UrineDisease, mucolipidosis such as fucosidosis, neuronalceroid-lipofuscinosis, oculocerebrorenal syndrome, phenylketonuria suchas maternal phenylketonuria, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome,Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, WAGR Syndrome, nervoussystem abnormalities such as holoprosencephaly, neural tube defects suchas anencephaly which includes hydrangencephaly, Arnold-Chairi Deformity,encephalocele, meningocele, meningomyelocele, spinal dysraphism such asspina bifida cystica and spina bifida occulta.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include hereditary motor and sensory neuropathieswhich include Charcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary optic atrophy, Refsum'sDisease, hereditary spastic paraplegia, Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies such as CongenitalAnalgesia and Familial Dysautonomia, Neurologic manifestations (such asagnosia that include Gerstmann's Syndrome, Amnesia such as retrogradeamnesia, apraxia, neurogenic bladder, cataplexy, communicative disorderssuch as hearing disorders that includes deafness, partial hearing loss,loudness recruitment and tinnitus, language disorders such as aphasiawhich include agraphia, anomia, broca aphasia, and Wernicke Aphasia,Dyslexia such as Acquired Dyslexia, language development disorders,speech disorders such as aphasia which includes anomia, broca aphasiaand Wemicke Aphasia, articulation disorders, communicative disorderssuch as speech disorders which include dysarthria, echolalia, mutism andstuttering, voice disorders such as aphonia and hoarseness, decerebratestate, delirium, fasciculation, hallucinations, meningism, movementdisorders such as angelman syndrome, ataxia, athetosis, chorea,dystonia, hypokinesia, muscle hypotonia, myoclonus, tic, torticollis andtremor, muscle hypertonia such as muscle rigidity such as stiff-mansyndrome, muscle spasticity, paralysis such as facial paralysis whichincludes Herpes Zoster Oticus, Gastroparesis, Hemiplegia,ophthalmoplegia such as diplopia, Duane's Syndrome, Horner's Syndrome,Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia such as Kearns Syndrome,Bulbar Paralysis, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis, Paraplegia such asBrown-Sequard Syndrome, quadriplegia, respiratory paralysis and vocalcord paralysis, paresis, phantom limb, taste disorders such as ageusiaand dysgeusia, vision disorders such as amblyopia, blindness, colorvision defects, diplopia, hemianopsia, scotoma and subnormal vision,sleep disorders such as hypersomnia which includes Kleine-LevinSyndrome, insomnia, and somnambulism, spasm such as trismus,unconsciousness such as coma, persistent vegetative state and syncopeand vertigo, neuromuscular diseases such as amyotonia congenita,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, motorneuron disease, muscular atrophy such as spinal muscular atrophy,Charcot-Marie Disease and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, PostpoliomyelitisSyndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myotonia Atrophica,Myotonia Confenita, Nemaline Myopathy, Familial Periodic Paralysis,Multiplex Paramyloclonus, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis and Stiff-ManSyndrome, peripheral nervous system diseases such as acrodynia, amyloidneuropathies, autonomic nervous system diseases such as Adie's Syndrome,Barre-Lieou Syndrome, Familial Dysautonomia, Horner's Syndrome, ReflexSympathetic Dystrophy and Shy-Drager Syndrome, Cranial Nerve Diseasessuch as Acoustic Nerve Diseases such as Acoustic Neuroma which includesNeurofibromatosis 2, Facial Nerve Diseases such as Facial Neuralgia,Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, ocular motility disorders which includesamblyopia, nystagmus, oculomotor nerve paralysis, ophthalmoplegia suchas Duane's Syndrome, Horner's Syndrome, Chronic Progressive ExternalOphthalmoplegia which includes Kearns Syndrome, Strabismus such asEsotropia and Exotropia, Oculomotor Nerve Paralysis, Optic NerveDiseases such as Optic Atrophy which includes Hereditary Optic Atrophy,Optic Disk Drusen, Optic Neuritis such as Neuromyelitis Optica,Papilledema, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vocal Cord Paralysis, DemyelinatingDiseases such as Neuromyelitis Optica and Swayback, and Diabeticneuropathies such as diabetic foot.

Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detected withpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include nerve compression syndromes such as carpaltunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome suchas cervical rib syndrome, ulnar nerve compression syndrome, neuralgiasuch as causalgia, cervico-brachial neuralgia, facial neuralgia andtrigeminal neuralgia, neuritis such as experimental allergic neuritis,optic neuritis, polyneuritis, polyradiculoneuritis and radiculities suchas polyradiculitis, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies such asCharcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary Optic Atrophy, Refsum's Disease,Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, HereditarySensory and Autonomic Neuropathies which include Congenital Analgesiaand Familial Dysautonomia, POEMS Syndrome, Sciatica, Gustatory Sweatingand Tetany).

Endocrine Disorders

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose disorders and/or diseases related to hormone imbalance, and/ordisorders or diseases of the endocrine system.

Hormones secreted by the glands of the endocrine system control physicalgrowth, sexual function, metabolism, and other functions. Disorders maybe classified in two ways: disturbances in the production of hormones,and the inability of tissues to respond to hormones. The etiology ofthese hormone imbalance or endocrine system diseases, disorders orconditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer and some autoimmunediseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy, injury or toxins), orinfectious. Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used as a markeror detector of a particular disease or disorder related to the endocrinesystem and/or hormone imbalance.

Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance and/or diseases encompassdisorders of uterine motility including, but not limited to:complications with pregnancy and labor (e.g., pre-term labor, post-termpregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and slow or stopped labor); anddisorders and/or diseases of the menstrual cycle (e.g., dysmenorrhea andendometriosis).

Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/or diseasesinclude disorders and/or diseases of the pancreas, such as, for example,diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, congenital pancreatic agenesis,pheochromocytoma—islet cell tumor syndrome; disorders and/or diseases ofthe adrenal glands such as, for example, Addison's Disease,corticosteroid deficiency, virilizing disease, hirsutism, Cushing'sSyndrome, hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma; disorders and/ordiseases of the pituitary gland, such as, for example, hyperpituitarism,hypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, pituitary adenoma,panhypopituitarism, acromegaly, gigantism; disorders and/or diseases ofthe thyroid, including but not limited to, hyperthyroidism,hypothyroidism, Plummer's disease, Graves' disease (toxic diffusegoiter), toxic nodular goiter, thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis,subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, and silent lymphocytic thyroiditis),Pendred's syndrome, myxedema, cretinism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroid hormonecoupling defect, thymic aplasia, Hurthle cell tumours of the thyroid,thyroid cancer, thyroid carcinoma, Medullary thyroid carcinoma;disorders and/or diseases of the parathyroid, such as, for example,hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism; disorders and/or diseases ofthe hypothalamus.

In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptidescorresponding to this gene and/or agonists or antagonists of thosepolypeptides (including antibodies) as well as fragments and variants ofthose polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and antagonists, may beused to diagnose, prognose, treat, prevent, or ameliorate diseases anddisorders associated with aberrant glucose metabolism or glucose uptakeinto cells.

In a specific embodiment, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptidescorresponding to this gene and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereofmay be used to diagnose, prognose, treat, prevent, and/or amelioratetype I diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM).

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptidescorresponding to this gene and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereofmay be used to diagnose, prognose, treat, prevent, and/or amelioratetype I diabetes mellitus (insulin resistant diabetes mellitus).

Additionally, in other embodiments, the polynucleotides and/orpolypeptides corresponding to this gene and/or antagonists thereof(especially neutralizing or antagonistic antibodies) may be used todiagnose, prognose, treat, prevent, or ameliorate conditions associatedwith (type I or type II) diabetes mellitus,including, but not limitedto, diabetic ketoacidosis, diabetic coma, nonketotichyperglycemic-hyperosmolar coma, seizures, mental confusion, drowsiness,cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart disease, atherosclerosis,microvascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and other diseases anddisorders as described in the “Cardiovascular Disorders” section),dyslipidemia, kidney disease (e.g., renal failure, nephropathy otherdiseases and disorders as described in the “Renal Disorders” section),nerve damage, neuropathy, vision impairment (e.g., diabetic retinopathyand blindness), ulcers and impaired wound healing, infections (e.g.,infectious diseases and disorders as described in the “InfectiousDiseases” section, especially of the urinary tract and skin), carpaltunnel syndrome and Dupuytren's contracture.

In other embodiments, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptidescorresponding to this gene and/or agonists or antagonists thereof areadministered to an animal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably ahuman, in order to regulate the animal's weight. In specific embodimentsthe polynucleotides and/or polypeptides corresponding to this geneand/or agonists or antagonists thereof are administered to an animal,preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, in order to controlthe animal's weight by modulating a biochemical pathway involvinginsulin. In still other embodiments the polynucleotides and/orpolypeptides corresponding to this gene and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof are administered to an animal, preferably a mammal, and mostpreferably a human, in order to control the animal's weight bymodulating a biochemical pathway involving insulin-like growth factor.

In addition, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/ordiseases may also include disorders and/or diseases of the testes orovaries, including cancer. Other disorders and/or diseases of the testesor ovaries further include, for example, ovarian cancer, polycysticovary syndrome, Kinefelter's syndrome, vanishing testes syndrome(bilateral anorchia), congenital absence of Leydig's cells,cryptorchidism, Noonan's syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, capillaryhaemangioma of the testis (benign), neoplasias of the testis andneo-testis.

Moreover, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/ordiseases may also include disorders and/or diseases such as, forexample, polyglandular deficiency syndromes, pheochromocytoma,neuroblastoma, multiple Endocrine neoplasia, and disorders and/orcancers of endocrine tissues.

In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/ortreat endocrine diseases and/or disorders associated with the tissue(s)in which the polypeptide of the invention is expressed, including one,two, three, four, five, or more tissues disclosed in Table 3, column 2(Library Code).

Reproductive System Disorders

The polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention may be used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention ofdiseases and/or disorders of the reproductive system. Reproductivesystem disorders that can be treated by the compositions of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, reproductive systeminjuries, infections, neoplastic disorders, congenital defects, anddiseases or disorders which result in infertility, complications withpregnancy, labor, or parturition, and postpartum difficulties.

Reproductive system disorders and/or diseases include diseases and/ordisorders of the testes, including testicular atrophy, testicularfeminization, cryptorchism (unilateral and bilateral), anorchia, ectopictestis, epididymnitis and orchitis (typically resulting from infectionssuch as, for example, gonorrhea, mumps, tuberculosis, and syphilis),testicular torsion, vasitis nodosa, germ cell tumors (e.g., seminomas,embryonal cell carcinomas, teratocarcinomas, choriocarcinomas, yolk sactumors, and teratomas), stromal tumors (e.g., Leydig cell tumors),hydrocele, hematocele, varicocele, spennatocele, inguinal hernia, anddisorders of sperm production (e.g., immotile cilia syndrome, aspermia,asthenozoospermia, azoospermia, oligospermia, and teratozoospermia).

Reproductive system disorders also include disorders of the prostategland, such as acute non-bacterial prostatitis, chronic non-bacterialprostatitis, acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis,prostatodystonia, prostatosis, granulomatous prostatitis, malacoplakia,benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia, and prostate neoplasticdisorders, including adenocarcinomas, transitional cell carcinomas,ductal carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas.

Additionally, the compositions of the invention may be useful in thediagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of disorders or diseases of thepenis and urethra, including inflammatory disorders, such asbalanoposthitis, balanitis xerotica obliterans, phimosis, paraphimosis,syphilis, herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis,chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas, HIV, AIDS, Reiter's syndrome,condyloma acuminatum, condyloma latum, and pearly penile papules;urethral abnormalities, such as hypospadias, epispadias, and phimosis;premalignant lesions, including Erythroplasia of Queyrat, Bowen'sdisease, Bowenoid paplosis, giant condyloma of Buscke-Lowenstein, andvarrucous carcinoma; penile cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas,carcinoma in situ, verrucous carcinoma, and disseminated penilecarcinoma; urethral neoplastic disorders, including penile urethralcarcinoma, bulbomembranous urethral carcinoma, and prostatic urethralcarcinoma; and erectile disorders, such as priapism, Peyronie's disease,erectile dysfunction, and impotence.

Moreover, diseases and/or disorders of the vas deferens includevasculititis and CBAVD (congenital bilateral absence of the vasdeferens); additionally, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonistsor antagonists of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis,treatment, and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the seminalvesicles, including hydatid disease, congenital chloride diarrhea, andpolycystic kidney disease.

Other disorders and/or diseases of the male reproductive system include,for example, Klinefelter's syndrome, Young's syndrome, prematureejaculation, diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, Kartagener's syndrome,high fever, multiple sclerosis, and gynecomastia

Further, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonists or antagonistsof the present invention may be used in the diagnosis, treatment, and/orprevention of diseases and/or disorders of the vagina and vulva,including bacterial vaginosis, candida vaginitis, herpes simplex virus,chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, scabies, humanpapillomavirus, vaginal trauma, vulvar trauma, adenosis, chlamydiavaginitis, gonorrhea, trichomonas vaginitis, condyloma acuminatum,syphilis, molluscum contagiosum, atrophic vaginitis, Paget's disease,lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, vulvodynia, toxic shock syndrome,vaginismus, vulvovaginitis, vulvar vestibulitis, and neoplasticdisorders, such as squamous cell hyperplasia, clear cell carcinoma,basal cell carcinoma, melanomas, cancer of Bartholin's gland, and vulvarintraepithelial neoplasia.

Disorders and/or diseases of the uterus include dysmenorrhea,retroverted uterus, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, anovulatory,bleeding, amenorrhea, Cushing's syndrome, hydatidiform moles, Asherman'ssyndrome, premature menopause, precocious puberty, uterine polyps,dysfunctional uterine bleeding (e.g., due to aberrant hormonal signals),and neoplastic disorders, such as adenocarcinomas, keiomyosarcomas, andsarcomas. Additionally, the polypeptides, polynucleofides, or agonistsor antagonists of the invention may be useful as a marker or detectorof, as well as in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention ofcongenital uterine abnormalities, such as bicornuate uterus, septateuterus, simple unicornuate uterus, unicornuate uterus with a noncavitaryrudimentary horn, unicomuate uterus with a non-communicating cavitaryrudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus with a communicating cavitary horn,arcuate uterus, uterine didelfus, and T-shaped uterus.

Ovarian diseases and/or disorders include anovulation, polycystic ovarysyndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome), ovarian cysts, ovarianhypofunction, ovarian insensitivity to gonadotropins, ovarianoverproduction of androgens, right ovarian vein syndrome, amenorrhea,hirutism, and ovarian cancer (including, but not limited to, primary andsecondary cancerous growth, Sertoli-leydig tumors, endometriod carcinomaof the ovary, ovarian papillary serous adenocarcinoma, ovarian mucinousadenocarcinoma, and Ovarian Krukenberg tumors).

Cervical diseases and/or disorders include cervicitis, chroniccervicitis, mucopurulent cervicitis, cervical dysplasia, cervicalpolyps, Nabothian cysts, cervical erosion, cervical incompetence, andcervical neoplasms (including, for example, cervical carcinoma, squamousmetaplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous cell neoplasia, andcolumnar cell neoplasia).

Additionally, diseases and/or disorders of the reproductive systeminclude disorders and/or diseases of pregnancy, including miscarriageand stillbirth, such as early abortion, late abortion, spontaneousabortion, induced abortion, therapeutic abortion, threatened abortion,missed abortion, incomplete abortion, complete abortion, habitualabortion, missed abortion, and septic abortion; ectopic pregnancy,anemia, Rh incompatibility, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy,gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation, polyhydramnios,HELLP syndrome, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, hyperemesis,preeclampsia, eclampsia, herpes gestationis, and urticaria of pregnancy.Additionally, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis,treatment, and/or prevention of diseases that can complicate pregnancy,including heart disease, heart failure, rheumatic heart disease,congenital heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure,anemia, kidney disease, infectious disease (e.g., rubella,cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, infectious hepatitis, chlamydia, HIV,AIDS, and genital herpes), diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease,thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic activehepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, primary biliary cirrhosis, asthma,systemic lupus eryematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis,idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, appendicitis, ovarian cysts,gallbladder disorders, and obstruction of the intestine.

Complications associated with labor and parturition include prematurerupture of the membranes, pre-term labor, post-term pregnancy,postmaturity, labor that progresses too slowly, fetal distress (e.g.,abnormal heart rate (fetal or maternal), breathing problems, andabnormal fetal position), shoulder dystocia, prolapsed umbilical cord,amniotic fluid embolism, and aberrant uterine bleeding.

Further, diseases and/or disorders of the postdelivery period, includingendometritis, myometritis, parametritis, peritonitis, pelvicthrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, endotoxemia, pyelonephritis,saphenous thrombophlebitis, mastitis, cystitis, postpartum hemorrhage,and inverted uterus.

Other disorders and/or diseases of the female reproductive system thatmay be diagnosed, treated, and/or prevented by the polynucleotides,polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists of the present inventioninclude, for example, Turner's syndrome, pseudohermaphroditism,premenstrual syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic congestion(vascular engorgement), frigidity, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, rupturedfallopian tube, and Mittelschmerz.

Infectious Disease

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention can be used to treat or detect infectious agents.For example, by increasing the immune response, particularly increasingthe proliferation and differentiation of B and/or T cells, infectiousdiseases may be treated. The immune response may be increased by eitherenhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a new immuneresponse. Alternatively, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention may also directlyinhibit the infectious agent, without necessarily eliciting an immuneresponse.

Viruses are one example of an infectious agent that can cause disease orsymptoms that can be treated or detected by a polynucleotide orpolypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention.Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to Examples ofviruses, include, but are not limited to the following DNA and RNAviruses and viral families: Arbovirus, Adenoviridae, Arenaviridae,Arterivirus, Birnaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Caliciviridae, Circoviridae,Coronaviridae, Dengue, EBV, HIV, Flaviviridae, Hepadnaviridae(Hepatitis), Herpesviridae (such as, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex,Herpes Zoster), Mononegavirus (e.g., Paramyxoviridae, Morbillivirus,Rhabdoviridae), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., Influenza A, Influenza B, andparainfluenza), Papiloma virus, Papovaviridae, Parvoviridae,Picornaviridae, Poxviridae (such as Smallpox or Vaccinia), Reoviridae(e.g., Rotavirus), Retroviridae (HTLV-I, HTLV-II, Lentivirus), andTogaviridae (e.g., Rubivirus). Viruses falling within these families cancause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to:arthritis, bronchiollitis, respiratory syncytial virus, encephalitis,eye infections (e.g., conjuinctivitis, keratitis), chronic fatiguesyndrome, hepatitis (A, B, C, E, Chronic Active, Delta), Japanese Bencephalitis, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever,meningitis, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS), pneumonia, Burkitt'sLymphoma, chickenpox, hemorrhagic fever, Measles, Mumps, Parainfluenza,Rabies, the common cold, Polio, leukemia, Rubella, sexually transmitteddiseases, skin diseases (e.g., Kaposi's, warts), and viremiapolynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms ordiseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat: meningitis,Dengue, EBV, and/or hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In an additionalspecific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat patients nonresponsive toone or more other commercially available hepatitis vaccines. In afurther specific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonistsor antagonists of the invention are used to treat AIDS.

Similarly, bacterial and fungal agents that can cause disease orsymptoms and that can be treated or detected by a polynucleotide orpolypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present inventioninclude, but not limited to, the following Gram-Negative andGram-positive bacteria, bacterial families, and fungi: Actinomyces(e.g., Norcardia), Acinetobacter, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus,Bacillaceae (e.g., Bacillus anthrasis), Bacteroides (e.g., Bacteroidesfragilis), Blastomycosis, Bordetella, Borrelia (e.g., Borreliaburgdorfen), Brucella, Candidia, Campylobacter, Chiamydia, Clostridium(e.g., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium dificile, Clostridiumperfringens, Clostridium tetani), Coccidioides, Corynebacterium (e.g.,Corynebacterium diptheriae), Cryptococcus, Dermatocycoses, E. coli(e.g., Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Enterohemorrhagic E. coli),Enterobacter (e.g. Enterobacter aerogenes), Enterobacteriaceae(Klebsiella, Salmonella (e.g., Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis,Salmonella typhi), Serratia, Yersinia, Shigella), Erysipelothrix,Haemophilus (e.g., Haemophilus influenza type B), Helicobacter,Legionella (e.g., Legionella pneumophila), Leptospira, Listeria (e.g.,Listeria monocytogenes), Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium (e.g., Mycobacteriumleprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Vibrio (e.g., Vibrio cholerae),Neisseriaceae (e.g., Neisseria gonorrhea, Neisseria meningitidis),Pasteurellacea, Proteus, Pseudomonas (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa),Rickettsiaceae, Spirochetes (e.g., Treponema spp., Leptospira spp.,Borrelia spp.), Shigella spp., Staphylococcus (e.g., Staphylococcusaureus), Meningiococcus, Pneumococcus and Streptococcus (e.g.,Streptococcus pneumoniae and Groups A, B, and C Streptococci), andUreaplasmas. These bacterial, parasitic, and fungal families can causediseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to:antibiotic-resistant infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, septicemia,eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis), uveitis, tuberculosis,gingivitis, bacterial diarrhea, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDSrelated infections), paronychia, prosthesis-related infections, dentalcaries, Reiter's Disease, respiratory tract infections, such as WhoopingCough or Empyema, sepsis, Lyme Disease, Cat-Scratch Disease, dysentery,paratyphoid fever, food poisoning, Legionella disease, chronic and acuteinflammation, erythema, yeast infections, typhoid, pneumonia, gonorrhea,meningitis (e.g., mengitis types A and B), chlamydia, syphillis,diphtheria, leprosy, brucellosis, peptic ulcers, anthrax, spontaneousabortions, birth defects, pneumonia, lung infections, ear infections,deafness, blindness, lethargy, malaise, vomiting, chronic diarrhea,Crohn's disease, colitis, vaginosis, sterility, pelvic inflammatorydiseases, candidiasis, paratuberculosis, tuberculosis, lupus, botulism,gangrene, tetanus, impetigo, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, sexuallytransmitted diseases, skin diseases. (e.g., cellulitis, dermatocycoses),toxemia, urinary tract infections, wound infections, noscomialinfections. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists ofthe invention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms ordiseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides,agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat: tetanus,diptheria, botulism, and/or meningitis type B.

Moreover, parasitic agents causing disease or symptoms that can betreated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotide or polypeptideand/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention include, but notlimited to, the following families or class: Amebiasis, Babesiosis,Coccidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Dientarnoebiasis, Dourine,Ectoparasitic, Giardias, Helminthiasis, Leishmaniasis, Schistisoma,Theileriasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, and Trichomonas andSporozoans (e.g., Plasmodium virax, Plasmodium falciparium, Plasmodiummalariae and Plasmodium ovale). These parasites can cause a variety ofdiseases, or symptoms, including, but not limited to: Scabies,Trombiculiasis, eye infections, intestinal disease (e.g., dysentery,giardiasis), liver disease, lung disease, opportunistic infections(e.g., AIDS related), malaria, pregnancy complications, andtoxoplasmosis. polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention, can be used to treat, prevent, and/ordiagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments,polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose malaria.

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention of the present invention could either be byadministering an effective amount of a polypeptide to the patient, or byremoving cells from the patient, supplying the cells with apolynucleotide of the present invention, and returning the engineeredcells to the patient (ex vivo therapy). Moreover, the polypeptide orpolynucleotide of the present invention can be used as an antigen in avaccine to raise an immune response against infectious disease.

Regeneration

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention can be used to differentiate, proliferate, andattract cells, leading to the regeneration of tissues. (See, Science276:59-87 (1997)). The regeneration of tissues could be used to repair,replace, or protect tissue damaged by congenital defects, trauma(wounds, burns, incisions, or ulcers), age, disease (e.g. osteoporosis,osteocarthritis, periodontal disease, liver failure), surgery, includingcosmetic plastic surgery, fibrosis, reperfusion injury, or systemiccytokine damage.

Tissues that could be regenerated using the present invention includeorgans (e.g., pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin, endothelium),muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac), vasculature (including vascularand lymphatics), nervous, hematopoietic, and skeletal (bone, cartilage,tendon, and ligament) tissue. Preferably, regeneration occurs without ordecreased scarring. Regeneration also may include angiogenesis.

Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may increase regeneration oftissues difficult to heal. For example, increased tendon/ligamentregeneration would quicken recovery time after damage. Polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention could also be used prophylactically in an effort to avoiddamage. Specific diseases that could be treated include of tendinitis,carpal tunnel syndrome, and other tendon or ligament defects. A furtherexample of tissue regeneration of non-healing wounds includes pressureulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical, andtraumatic wounds.

Similarly, nerve and brain tissue could also be regenerated by usingpolynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, to proliferate and differentiate nerve cells.Diseases that could be treated using this method include central andperipheral nervous system diseases, neuropathies, or mechanical andtraumatic disorders (e.g., spinal cord disorders, head trauma,cerebrovascular disease, and stoke). Specifically, diseases associatedwith peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy (e.g., resultingfrom chemotherapy or other medical therapies), localized neuropathies,and central nervous system diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome), could all be treated using thepolynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory diseasesand/or conditions, infections, cancers (e.g., intestinal neoplasms(carcinoid tumor of the small intestine, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of thesmall intestine, small bowl lymphoma)), and ulcers, such as pepticulcers.

Gastrointestinal disorders include dysphagia, odynophagia, inflammationof the esophagus, peptic esophagitis, gastric reflux, submucosalfibrosis and stricturing, Mallory-Weiss lesions, leiomyomas, lipomas,epidermal cancers, adeoncarcinomas, gastric retention disorders,gastroenteritis, gastric atrophy, gastric/stomach cancers, polyps of thestomach, autoimmune disorders such as pernicious anemia, pyloricstenosis, gastritis (bacterial, viral, eosinophilic, stress-induced,chronic erosive, atrophic, plasma cell, and Ménétrier's), and peritonealdiseases (e.g., chyloperioneum, hemoperitoneum, mesenteric cyst,mesenteric lymphadenitis, mesenteric vascular occlusion, panniculitis,neoplasms, peritonitis, pneumoperitoneum, bubphrenic abscess,).

Gastrointestinal disorders also include disorders associated with thesmall intestine, such as malabsorption syndromes, distension, irritablebowel syndrome, sugar intolerance, celiac disease, duodenal ulcers,duodenitis, tropical sprue, Whipple's disease, intestinallymphangiectasia, Crohn's disease, appendicitis, obstructions of theileum, Meckel's diverticulum, multiple diverticula, failure of completerotation of the small and large intestine, lymphoma, and bacterial andparasitic diseases (such as Traveler's diarrhea, typhoid andparatyphoid, cholera, infection by Roundworms (Ascariasis lumbricoides),Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale), Threadworms (Enterobiusvernicularis), Tapeworms (Taenia saginala, Echinococcus granulosus,Diphyllobothrium spp., and T. solium).

Liver diseases and/or disorders include intrahepatic cholestasis(alagille syndrome, biliary liver cirrhosis), fatty liver (alcoholicfatty liver, reye syndrome), hepatic vein thrombosis, hepatolentriculardegeneration, hepatomegaly, hepatopulmonary syndrome, hepatorenalsyndrome, portal hypertension (esophageal and gastric varices), liverabscess (amebic liver abscess), liver cirrhosis (alcoholic, biliary andexperimental), alcoholic liver diseases (fatty liver, hepatitis,cirrhosis), parasitic (hepatic echinococcosis, fascioliasis, amebicliver abscess), jaundice (hemolytic, hepatocellular, and cholestatic),cholestasis, portal hypertension, liver enlargement, ascites, hepatitis(alcoholic hepatitis, animal hepatitis, chronic hepatitis (autoimmune,hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, drug induced), toxic hepatitis,viral human hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitisD, hepatitis E), Wilson's disease, granulomatous hepatitis, secondarybiliary cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension, varices,hepatic encephalopathy, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosingcholangitis, hepatocellular adenoma, hemangiomas, bile stones, liverfailure (hepatic encephalopathy, acute liver failure), and liverneoplasms (angiomyolipoma, calcified liver metastases, cystic livermetastases, epithelial tumors, fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma, focalnodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, hepatobiliary cystadenoma,hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, liver cancer, liverhemangioendothelioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, mesenchymal tumors ofliver, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, benign liver tumors (Hepaticcysts [Simple cysts, Polycystic liver disease, Hepatobiliarycystadenoma, Choledochal cyst], Mesenchymal tumors [Mesenchymalhamartoma, Infantile hemangioendothelioma, Hemangioma, Peliosis hepatis,Lipomas, Inflammatory pseudotumor, Miscellaneous], Epithelial tumors[Bile duct epithelium (Bile duct hamartoma, Bile duct adenoma),Hepatocyte (Adenoma, Focal nodular hyperplasia, Nodular regenerativehyperplasia)], malignant liver tumors [hepatocellular, hepatoblastoma,hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocellular, cholangiocarcinoma,cystadenocarcinoma, tumors of blood vessels, angiosarcoma, Karposi'ssarcoma, hemangioendothelioma, other tumors, embryonal sarcoma,fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, carcinosarcoma,teratoma, carcinoid, squamous carcinoma, primary lymphoma]), peliosishepatis, erythrohepatic porphyria, hepatic porphyria (acute intermittentporphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda), Zellweger syndrome).

Pancreatic diseases and/or disorders include acute pancreatitis, chronicpancreatitis (acute necrotizing pancreatitis, alcoholic pancreatitis),neoplasms (adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, cystadenocarcinoma,insulinoma, gastrinoma, and glucagonoma, cystic neoplasms, islet-celltumors, pancreoblastoma), and other pancreatic diseases (e.g., cysticfibrosis, cyst (pancreatic pseudocyst, pancreatic fistula,insufficiency)).

Gallbladder diseases include gallstones (cholelithiasis andcholedocholithiasis), postcholecystectomy syndrome, diverticulosis ofthe gallbladder, acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, bile ducttumors, and mucocele.

Diseases and/or disorders of the large intestine includeantibiotic-associated colitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis,acquired megacolon, abscesses, fungal and bacterial infections,anorectal disorders (e.g., fissures, hemorrhoids), colonic diseases(colitis, colonic neoplasms [colon cancer, adenomatous colon polyps(e.g., villous adenoma), colon carcinoma, colorectal cancer], colonicdiverticulitis, colonic diverticulosis, megacolon [Hirschsprung disease,toxic megacolon]; sigmoid diseases [proctocolitis, sigmoin neoplasms]),constipation, Crohn's disease, diarrhea (infantile diarrhea, dysentery),duodenal diseases (duodenal neoplasms, duodenal obstruction, duodenalulcer, duodenitis), enteritis (enterocolitis), HIV enteropathy, ilealdiseases (ileal neoplasms, ileitis), immunoproliferative smallintestinal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis,Crohn's disease), intestinal atresia, parasitic diseases (anisakiasis,balantidiasis, blastocystis infections, cryptosporidiosis,dientamoebiasis, amebic dysentery, giardiasis), intestinal fistula(rectal fistula), intestinal neoplasms (cecal neoplasms, colonicneoplasms, duodenal neoplasms, ileal neoplasms, intestinal polyps,jejunal neoplasms, rectal neoplasms), intestinal obstruction (afferentloop syndrome, duodenal obstruction, impacted feces, intestinalpseudo-obstruction [cecal volvulus], intussusception), intestinalperforation, intestinal polyps (colonic polyps, gardner syndrome,peutz-jeghers syndrome), jejunal diseases (ejunal neoplasms),malabsorption syndromes (blind loop syndrome, celiac disease, lactoseintolerance, short bowl syndrome, tropical sprue, whipple's disease),mesenteric vascular occlusion, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis,protein-losing enteropathies (intestinal lymphagiectasis), rectaldiseases (anus diseases, fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids, proctitis,rectal fistula, rectal prolapse, rectocele), peptic ulcer (duodenalulcer, peptic esophagitis, hemorrhage, perforation, stomach ulcer,Zollinger-Ellison syndrome), postgastrectomy syndromes (dumpingsyndrome), stomach diseases (e.g., achlorhydria, duodenogastric reflux(bile reflux), gastric antral vascular ectasia, gastric fistula, gastricoutlet obstruction, gastritis (atrophic or hypertrophic), gastroparesis,stomach dilatation, stomach diverticulum, stomach neoplasms (gastriccancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma, hyperplastic gastricpolyp), stomach rupture, stomach ulcer, stomach volvulus), tuberculosis,visceroptosis, vomiting (e.g., hematemesis, hyperemesis gravidarum,postoperative nausea and vomiting) and hemorrhagic colitis.

Further diseases and/or disorders of the gastrointestinal system includebiliary tract diseases, such as, gastroschisis, fistula (e.g., biliaryfistula, esophageal fistula, gastric fistula, intestinal fistula,pancreatic fistula), neoplasms (e.g., biliary tract neoplasms,esophageal neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus,esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal neoplasms,pancreatic neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, mucinouscystic neoplasm of the pancreas, pancreatic cystic neoplasms,pancreatoblastoma, and peritoneal neoplasms), esophageal disease (e.g.,bullous diseases, candidiasis, glycogenic acanthosis, ulceration,barrett esophagus varices, atresia, cyst, diverticulum (e.g., Zenker'sdiverticulum), fistula (e.g., tracheoesophageal fistula), motilitydisorders (e.g., CREST syndrome, deglutition disorders, achalasia,spasm, gastroesophageal reflux), neoplasms, perforation (e.g., Boerhaavesyndrome, Mallory-Weiss syndrome), stenosis, esophagitis, diaphragmatichemia (e.g., hiatal hernia); gastrointestinal diseases, such as,gastroenteritis (e.g., cholera morbus, norwalk virus infection),hemorrhage (e.g., hematemesis, melena, peptic ulcer hemorrhage), stomachneoplasms (gastric cancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma,stomach cancer)), hernia (e.g., congenital diaphragmatic hernia, femoralhernia, inguinal hernia, obturator hernia, umbilical hernia, ventralhernia), and intestinal diseases (e.g., cecal diseases (appendicitis,cecal neoplasms)).

Chemotaxis

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention may have chemotaxis activity. A chemotaxicmolecule attracts or mobilizes cells (e.g., monocytes, fibroblasts,neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils, epithelial and/orendothelial cells) to a particular site in the body, such asinflammation, infection, or site of hyperproliferation. The mobilizedcells can then fight off and/or heal the particular trauma orabnormality.

Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention may increase chemotaxic activity of particularcells. These chemotactic molecules can then be used to treatinflammation, infection, hyperproliferative disorders, or any immunesystem disorder by increasing the number of cells targeted to aparticular location in the body. For example, chemotaxic molecules canbe used to treat wounds and other trauma to tissues by attracting immunecells to the injured location. Chemotactic molecules of the presentinvention can also attract fibroblasts, which can be used to treatwounds.

It is also contemplated that polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention may inhibit chemotacticactivity. These molecules could also be used to treat disorders. Thus,polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention could be used as an inhibitor of chemotaxis.

Binding Activity

A polypeptide of the present invention may be used to screen formolecules that bind to the polypeptide or for molecules to which thepolypeptide binds. The binding of the polypeptide and the molecule mayactivate (agonist), increase, inhibit (antagonist), or decrease activityof the polypeptide or the molecule bound. Examples of such moleculesinclude antibodies, oligonucleotides, proteins (e.g., receptors),orsmall molecules.

Preferably, the molecule is closely related to the natural ligand of thepolypeptide, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or a natural substrate, aligand, a structural or functional mimetic. (See, Coligan et al.,Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991)). Similarly, themolecule can be closely related to the natural receptor to which thepolypeptide binds, or at least, a fragment of the receptor capable ofbeing bound by the polypeptide (e.g., active site). In either case, themolecule can be rationally designed using known techniques.

Preferably, the screening for these molecules involves producingappropriate cells which express the polypeptide. Preferred cells includecells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila, or E. coli. Cells expressing thepolypeptide (or cell membrane containing the expressed polypeptide) arethen preferably contacted with a test compound potentially containingthe molecule to observe binding, stimulation, or inhibition of activityof either the polypeptide or the molecule.

The assay may simply test binding of a candidate compound to thepolypeptide, wherein binding is detected by a label, or in an assayinvolving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, the assay maytest whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated bybinding to the polypeptide.

Alternatively, the assay can be carried out using cell freepreparations, polypeptide/molecule affixed to a solid support, chemicallibraries, or natural product mixtures. The assay may also simplycomprise the steps of mixing a candidate compound with a solutioncontaining a polypeptide, measuring polypeptide/molecule activity orbinding, and comparing the polypeptide/molecule activity or binding to astandard.

Preferably, an ELISA assay can measure polypeptide level or activity ina sample (e.g., biological sample) using a monoclonal or polyclonalantibody. The antibody can measure polypeptide level or activity byeither binding, directly or indirectly, to the polypeptide or bycompeting with the polypeptide for a substrate.

Additionally, the receptor to which the polypeptide of the presentinvention binds can be identified by numerous methods known to those ofskill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting (Coligan,et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2), Chapter 5, (1991)). Forexample, expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNA isprepared from a cell responsive to the polypeptides, for example, NIH3T3cells which are known to contain multiple receptors for the FGF familyproteins, and SC-3 cells, and a cDNA library created from this RNA isdivided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cells thatare not responsive to the polypeptides. Transfected cells which aregrown on glass slides are exposed to the polypeptide of the, presentinvention, after they have been labeled. The polypeptides can be labeledby a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognitionsite for a site-specific protein kinase.

Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected toauto-radiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-poolsare prepared and re-transfected using an iterative sub-pooling andre-screening process, eventually yielding a single clones that encodesthe putative receptor.

As an alternative approach for receptor identification, the labeledpolypeptides can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane or extractpreparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linked materialis resolved by PAGE analysis and exposed to X-ray film. The labeledcomplex containing the receptors of the polypeptides can be excised,resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to proteinmicrosequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencingwould be used to design a set of degenerate oligonucleotide probes toscreen a cDNA library to identify the genes encoding the putativereceptors.

Moreover, the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling,exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNAshuffling”) may be employed to modulate the activities of thepolypeptide of the present invention thereby effectively generatingagonists and antagonists of the polypeptide of the present invention.See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793, 5,811,238, 5,830,721,5,834,252, and 5,837,458, and Patten, P. A., et al., Curr. OpinionBiotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, S. Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82(1998); Hansson, L. O., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); andLorenzo, M. M. and Blasco, R. Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998); each ofthese patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference). Inone embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides and correspondingpolypeptides may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involvesthe assembly of two or more DNA segments into a desired molecule byhomologous, or site-specific, recombination. In another embodiment,polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides may be altered by beingsubjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotideinsertion or other methods prior to recombination. In anotherembodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains,fragments, etc., of the polypeptide of the present invention may berecombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts,domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules. Inpreferred embodiments, the heterologous molecules are family members. Infurther preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecule is a growthfactor such as, for example, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF),insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), transforming growth factor(TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor(FGF), TGF-beta, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-5,BMP-6, BMP-7, activins A and B, decapentaplegic(dpp), 60A, OP-2,dorsalin, growth differentiation factors (GDFs), nodal, MIS,inhibin-alpha, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-beta5, andglial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments of thepolypeptide of the present invention. Biologically active fragments arethose exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, to anactivity of the polypeptide of the present invention. The biologicalactivity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or adecreased undesirable activity.

Additionally, this invention provides a method of screening compounds toidentify those which modulate the action of the polypeptide of thepresent invention. An example of such an assay comprises combining amammalian fibroblast cell, a the polypeptide of the present invention,the compound to be screened and ³[H] thymidine under cell cultureconditions where the fibroblast cell would normally proliferate. Acontrol assay may be performed in the absence of the compound to bescreened and compared to the amount of fibroblast proliferation in thepresence of the compound to determine if the compound stimulatesproliferation by determining the uptake of ³[H] thymidine in each case.The amount of fibroblast cell proliferation is measured by liquidscinitillation chromatography which measures the incorporation of ³[H]thymidine. Both agonist and antagonist compounds may be identified bythis procedure.

In another method, a mammalian cell or membrane preparation expressing areceptor for a polypeptide of the present invention is incubated with alabeled polypeptide of the present invention in the presence of thecompound. The ability of the compound to enhance or block thisinteraction could then be measured. Alternatively, the response of aknown second messenger system following interaction of a compound to bescreened and the receptor is measured and the ability of the compound tobind to the receptor and elicit a second messenger response is measuredto determine if the compound is a potential agonist or antagonist. Suchsecond messenger systems include but are not limited to, cAMP guanylatecyclase, ion channels or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

All of these above assays can be used as diagnostic or prognosticmarkers. The molecules discovered using these assays can be used totreat disease or to bring about a particular result in a patient (e.g.,blood vessel growth) by activating or inhibiting thepolypeptide/molecule. Moreover, the assays can discover agents which mayinhibit or enhance the production of the polypeptides of the inventionfrom suitably manipulated cells or tissues.

Therefore, the invention includes a method of identifying compoundswhich bind to a polypeptide of the invention comprising the steps of:(a) incubating a candidate binding compound with a polypeptide of thepresent invention; and (b) determining if binding has occurred.Moreover, the invention includes a method of identifyingagonists/antagonists comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidatecompound with a polypeptide of the present invention, (b) assaying abiological activity, and (b) determining if a biological activity of thepolypeptide has been altered.

Targeted Delivery

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of deliveringcompositions to targeted cells expressing a receptor for a polypeptideof the invention, or cells expressing a cell bound form of a polypeptideof the invention.

As discussed herein, polypeptides or antibodies of the invention may beassociated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids,toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalentinteractions. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for thespecific delivery of compositions of the invention to cells byadministering polypeptides of the invention (including antibodies) thatare associated with heterologous polypeptides or nucleic acids. In oneexample, the invention provides a method for delivering a therapeuticprotein into the targeted cell. In another example, the inventionprovides a method for delivering a single stranded nucleic acid (e.g.,antisense or ribozymes) or double stranded nucleic acid (e.g., DNA thatcan integrate into the cell's genome or replicate episomally and thatcan be transcribed) into the targeted cell.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for the specificdestruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) byadministering polypeptides of the invention (e.g., polypeptides of theinvention or antibodies of the invention) in association with toxins orcytotoxic prodrugs.

By “toxin” is meant compounds that bind and activate endogenouscytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins, modified toxins,catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules or enzymes not normallypresent in or on the surface of a cell that under defined conditionscause the cell's death. Toxins that may be used according to the methodsof the invention include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes known inthe art, compounds such as, for example, antibodies (or complementfixing containing portions thereof) that bind an inherent or inducedendogenous cytotoxic effector system, thymidine kinase, endonuclease,RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheriatoxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweed antiviral protein,alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. By “cytotoxic prodrug” is meant anon-toxic compound that is converted by an enzyme, normally present inthe cell, into a cytotoxic compound. Cytotoxic prodrugs that may be usedaccording to the methods of the invention include, but are not limitedto, glutamyl derivatives of benzoic acid mustard alkylating agent,phosphate derivatives of etoposide or mitomycin C, cytosine arabinoside,daunorubisin, and phenoxyacetamide derivatives of doxorubicin.

Drug Screening

Further contemplated is the use of the polypeptides of the presentinvention, or the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides, to screenfor molecules which modify the activities of the polypeptides of thepresent invention. Such a method would include contacting thepolypeptide of the present invention with a selected compound(s)suspected of having antagonist or agonist activity, and assaying theactivity of these polypeptides following binding.

This invention is particularly useful for screening therapeuticcompounds by using the polypeptides of the present invention, or bindingfragments thereof, in any of a variety of drug screening techniques. Thepolypeptide or fragment employed in such a test may be affixed to asolid support, expressed on a cell surface, free in solution, or locatedintracellularly. One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic orprokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinantnucleic acids expressing the polypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screenedagainst such transformed cells in competitive binding assays. One maymeasure, for example, the formulation of complexes between the agentbeing tested and a polypeptide of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening for drugs orany other agents which affect activities mediated by the polypeptides ofthe present invention. These methods comprise contacting such an agentwith a polypeptide of the present invention or a fragment thereof andassaying for the presence of a complex between the agent and thepolypeptide or a fragment thereof, by methods well known in the art. Insuch a competitive binding assay, the agents to screen are typicallylabeled. Following incubation, free agent is separated from that presentin bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measureof the ability of a particular agent to bind to the polypeptides of thepresent invention.

Another technique for drug screening provides high throughput screeningfor compounds having suitable binding affinity to the polypeptides ofthe present invention, and is described in great detail in EuropeanPatent Application 84/03564, published on Sep. 13, 1984, which isincorporated herein by reference herein. Briefly stated, large numbersof different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on a solidsubstrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The peptide testcompounds are reacted with polypeptides of the present invention andwashed. Bound polypeptides are then detected by methods well known inthe art. Purified polypeptides are coated directly onto plates for usein the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition,non-neutralizing antibodies may be used to capture the peptide andimmobilize it on the solid support.

This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screeningassays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding polypeptidesof the present invention specifically compete with a test compound forbinding to the polypeptides or fragments thereof. In this manner, theantibodies are used to detect the presence of any peptide which sharesone or more antigenic epitopes with a polypeptide of the invention.

Antisense and Ribozyme (Antagonists)

In specific embodiments, antagonists according to the present inventionare nucleic acids corresponding to the sequences contained in SEQ IDNO:X, or the complementary strand thereof, and/or to cDNA sequencescontained in cDNA plasmid:Z identified for example, in Table 1. In oneembodiment, antisense sequence is generated intemally, by the organism,in another embodiment, the antisense sequence is separately administered(see, for example, O'Connor, J., Neurochem. 56:560 (1991).Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRCPress, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Antisense technology can be used tocontrol gene expression through antisense DNA or RNA, or throughtriple-helix formation. Antisense techniques are discussed for example,in Okano, J., Neurochem. 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides asAntisense Inhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla.(1988). Triple helix formation is discussed in, for instance, Lee etal., Nucleic Acids Research 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science241:456 (1988); and Dervan et al., Science 251:1300 (1991). The methodsare based on binding of a polynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA.

For example, the use of c-myc and c-myb antisense RNA constructs toinhibit the growth of the non-lymphocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 andother cell lines was previously described. (Wickstrom et al. (1988);Anfossi et al. (1989)). These experiments were performed in vitro byincubating cells with the oligoribonucleotide. A similar procedure forin vivo use is described in WO 91/15580. Briefly, a pair ofoligonucleotides for a given antisense RNA is produced as follows: Asequence complimentary to the first 15 bases of the open reading frameis flanked by an EcoR1 site on the 5 end and a HindIII site on the 3end. Next, the pair of oligonucleotides is heated at 90° C. for oneminute and then annealed in 2× ligation buffer (2 mM TRIS HCl pH 7.5, 10mM MgCl2, 10 MM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.2 mM ATP) and then ligated tothe EcoR1/Hind III site of the retroviral vector PMV7 (WO 91/15580).

For example, the 5′ coding portion of a polynucleotide that encodes thepolypeptide of the present invention may be used to design an antisenseRNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 base pairs in length. A DNAoligonucleotide is designed to be complementary to a region of the geneinvolved in transcription thereby preventing transcription and theproduction of the receptor. The antisense RNA oligonucleotide hybridizesto the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation of the mRNA molecule intoreceptor polypeptide.

In one embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid of the invention isproduced intracellularly by transcription from an exogenous sequence.For example, a vector or a portion thereof, is transcribed, producing anantisense nucleic acid (RNA) of the invention. Such a vector wouldcontain a sequence encoding the antisense nucleic acid. Such a vectorcan remain episomal or become chromosomally integrated, as long as itcan be transcribed to produce the desired antisense RNA. Such vectorscan be constructed by recombinant DNA technology methods standard in theart. Vectors can be plasmid, viral, or others known in the art, used forreplication and expression in vertebrate cells. Expression of thesequence encoding the polypeptide of the present invention or fragmentsthereof, can be by any promoter known in the art to act in vertebrate,preferably human cells. Such promoters can be inducible or constitutive.Such promoters include, but are not limited to, the SV40 early promoterregion (Bernoist and Chambon, Nature 29:304-310 (1981), the promotercontained in the 3′ long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus (Yamamotoet al., Cell 22:787-797 (1980), the herpes thymidine promoter (Wagner etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78:1441-1445(1981), the regulatorysequences of the metallothionein gene (Brinster, et al., Nature296:39-42 (1982)), etc.

The antisense nucleic acids of the invention comprise a sequencecomplementary to at least a portion of an RNA transcript of a gene ofthe present invention. However, absolute complementarity, althoughpreferred, is not required. A sequence “complementary to at least aportion of an RNA,” referred to herein, means a sequence havingsufficient complementarity to be able to hybridize with the RNA, forminga stable duplex; in the case of double stranded antisense nucleic acids,a single strand of the duplex DNA may thus be tested, or triplexformation may be assayed. The ability to hybridize will depend on boththe degree of complementarity and the length of the antisense nucleicacid. Generally, the larger the hybridizing nucleic acid, the more basemismatches with a RNA it may contain and still form a stable duplex (ortriplex as the case may be). One skilled in the art can ascertain atolerable degree of mismatch by use of standard procedures to determinethe melting point of the hybridized complex.

Oligonucleotides that are complementary to the 5′ end of the message,e.g., the 5′ untranslated sequence up to and including the AUGinitiation codon, should work most efficiently at inhibitingtranslation. However, sequences complementary to the 3′ untranslatedsequences of mRNAs have been shown to be effective at inhibitingtranslation of mRNAs as well. See generally, Wagner, R., 1994, Nature372:333-335. Thus, oligonucleotides complementary to either the 5′- or3′- non-translated, non-coding regions of polynucleotide sequencesdescribed herein could be used in an antisense approach to inhibittranslation of endogenous mRNA. Oligonucleotides complementary to the 5′untranslated region of the mRNA should include the complement of the AUGstart codon. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mRNA codingregions are less efficient inhibitors of translation but could be usedin accordance with the invention. Whether designed to hybridize to the5′-, 3′- or coding region of mRNA of the present invention, antisensenucleic acids should be at least six nucleotides in length, and arepreferably oligonucleotides ranging from 6 to about 50 nucleotides inlength. In specific aspects the oligonucleotide is at least 10nucleotides, at least 17 nucleotides, at least 25 nucleotides or atleast 50 nucleotides.

The polynucleotides of the invention can be DNA or RNA or chimericmixtures or derivatives or modified versions thereof, single-stranded ordouble-stranded. The oligonucleotide can be modified at the base moiety,sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone, for example, to improve stabilityof the molecule, hybridization, etc. The oligonucleotide may includeother appended groups such as peptides (e.g., for targeting host cellreceptors in vivo), or agents facilitating transport across the cellmembrane (see, e.g., Letsinger et al., 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A. 86:6553-6556; Lemaitre et al., 1987, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.84:648-652; PCT Publication No. WO88/09810, published Dec. 15, 1988) orthe blood-brain barrier (see, e.g., PCT Publication No. WO89/10134,published Apr. 25, 1988), hybridization-triggered cleavage agents. (See,e.g., Krol et al., 1988, BioTechniques 6:958-976) or intercalatingagents. (See, e.g., Zon, 1988, Pharm. Res. 5:539-549). To this end, theoligonucleotide may be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide,hybridization triggered cross-linking agent, transport agent,hybridization-triggered cleavage agent, etc.

The antisense oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modified basemoiety which is selected from the group including, but not limited to,5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil,hypoxanthine, xantine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl)uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine,5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil,beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine,1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine,2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine,7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil,5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine,5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil,2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine,5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil,uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w,and 2,6-diaminopurine.

The antisense oligonucleotide may also comprise at least one modifiedsugar moiety selected from the group including, but not limited to,arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide comprises atleast one modified phosphate backbone selected from the group including,but not limited to, a phosphorothioate, a phosphorodithioate, aphosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, a phosphordiamidate,amethylpliosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester,and a formacetal or analogthereof.

In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is ana-anomeric oligonucleotide. An a-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specificdouble-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to theusual b-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al.,1987, Nucl. Acids Res. 15:6625-6641). The oligonucleotide is a2′-O-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., 1987, Nucl. Acids Res.15:6131-6148), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., 1987, FEBSLett. 215:327-330).

Polynucleotides of the invention may be synthesized by standard methodsknown in the art, e.g. by use of an automated DNA synthesizer (such asare commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems, etc.). Asexamples, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides may be synthesized by themethod of Stein et al. (1988, Nucl. Acids Res. 16:3209),methylphosphonate oligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlledpore glass polymer supports (Sarin et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A. 85:7448-7451), etc.

While antisense nucleotides complementary to the coding region sequencecould be used, those complementary to the transcribed untranslatedregion are most preferred.

Potential antagonists according to the invention also include catalyticRNA, or a ribozyme (See, e.g., PCT International Publication WO90/11364, published Oct. 4, 1990; Sarver et al, Science 247:1222-1225(1990). While ribozymes that cleave mRNA at site specific recognitionsequences can be used to destroy mRNAs, the use of hammerhead ribozymesis preferred. Hammerhead ribozymes cleave mRNAs at locations dictated byflanking regions that form complementary base pairs with the targetmRNA. The sole requirement is that the target mRNA have the followingsequence of two bases: 5′-UG-3′. The construction and production ofhammerhead ribozymes is well known in the art and is described morefully in Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature 334:585-591 (1988). There arenumerous potential hammerhead ribozyme cleavage sites within thenucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X. Preferably, the ribozyme isengineered so that the cleavage recognition site is located near the 5′end of the mRNA; i.e., to increase efficiency and minimize theintracellular accumulation of non-functional mRNA transcripts.

As in the antisense approach, the ribozymes of the invention can becomposed of modified oligonucleotides (e.g., for improved stability,targeting, etc.) and should be delivered to cells which express in vivo.DNA constructs encoding the ribozyme may be introduced into the cell inthe same manner as described above for the introduction of antisenseencoding DNA. A preferred method of delivery involves using a DNAconstruct “encoding” the ribozyme under the control of a strongconstitutive promoter, such as, for example, pol III or pol II promoter,so that transfected cells will produce sufficient quantities of theribozyme to destroy endogenous messages and inhibit translation. Sinceribozymes unlike antisense molecules, are catalytic, a lowerintracellular concentration is required for efficiency.

Antagonist/agonist compounds may be employed to inhibit the cell growthand proliferation effects of the polypeptides of the present inventionon neoplastic cells and tissues, i.e. stimulation of angiogenesis oftumors, and, therefore, retard or prevent abnormal cellular growth andproliferation, for example, in tumor formation or growth.

The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to prevent hyper-vasculardiseases, and prevent the proliferation of epithelial lens cells afterextracapsular cataract surgery. Prevention of the mitogenic activity ofthe polypeptides of the present invention may also be desirous in casessuch as restenosis after balloon angioplasty.

The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to prevent the growth ofscar tissue during wound healing.

The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to treat the diseasesdescribed herein.

Thus, the invention provides a method of treating disorders or diseases,including but not limited to the disorders or diseases listed throughoutthis application, associated with overexpression of a polynucleotide ofthe present invention by administering to a patient (a) an antisensemolecule directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention, and/or(b) a ribozyme directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention.

Binding Peptides and Other Molecules

The invention also encompasses screening methods for identifyingpolypeptides and nonpolypeptides that bind polypeptides of theinvention, and the binding molecules identified thereby. These bindingmolecules are useful, for example, as agonists and antagonists of thepolypeptides of the invention. Such agonists and antagonists can beused, in accordance with the invention, in the therapeutic embodimentsdescribed in detail, below.

This method comprises the steps of:

1. contacting polypeptides of the invention with a plurality ofmolecules; and

2. identifying a molecule that binds the polypeptides of the invention.

The step of contacting the polypeptides of the invention with theplurality of molecules may be effected in a number of ways. For example,one may contemplate immobilizing the polypeptides on a solid support andbringing a solution of the plurality of molecules in contact with theimmobilized polypeptides. Such a procedure would be akin to an affinitychromatographic process, with the affinity matrix being comprised of theimmobilized polypeptides of the invention. The molecules having aselective affinity for the polypeptides can then be purified by affinityselection. The nature of the solid support, process for attachment ofthe polypeptides to the solid support, solvent, and conditions of theaffinity isolation or selection are largely conventional and well knownto those of ordinary skill in the art.

Alternatively, one may also separate a plurality of polypeptides intosubstantially separate fractions comprising a subset of or individualpolypeptides. For instance, one can separate the plurality ofpolypeptides by gel electrophoresis, column chromatography, or likemethod known to those of ordinary skill for the separation ofpolypeptides. The individual polypeptides can also be produced by atransformed host cell in such a way as to be expressed on or about itsouter surface (e.g., a recombinant phage). Individual isolates can thenbe “probed” by the polypeptides of the invention, optionally in thepresence of an inducer should one be required for expression, todetermine if any selective affinity interaction takes place between thepolypeptides and the individual clone. Prior to contacting thepolypeptides with each fraction comprising individual polypeptides, thepolypeptides could first be transferred to a solid support foradditional convenience. Such a solid support may simply be a piece offilter membrane, such as one made of nitrocellulose or nylon. In thismanner, positive clones could be identified from a collection oftransformed host cells of an expression library, which harbor a DNAconstruct encoding a polypeptide having a selective affinity forpolypeptides of the invention. Furthermore, the amino acid sequence ofthe polypeptide having a selective affinity for the polypeptides of theinvention can be determined directly by conventional means or the codingsequence of the DNA encoding the polypeptide can frequently bedetermined more conveniently. The primary sequence can then be deducedfrom the corresponding DNA sequence. If the amino acid sequence is to bedetermined from the polypeptide itself, one may use microsequencingtechniques. The sequencing technique may include mass spectroscopy.

In certain situations, it may be desirable to wash away any unboundpolypeptides from a mixture of the polypeptides of the invention and theplurality of polypeptides prior to attempting to determine or to detectthe presence of a selective affinity interaction. Such a wash step maybe particularly desirable when the polypeptides of the invention or theplurality of polypeptides are bound to a solid support.

The plurality of molecules provided according to this method may beprovided by way of diversity libraries, such as random or combinatorialpeptide or nonpeptide libraries which can be screened for molecules thatspecifically bind polypeptides of the invention. Many libraries areknown in the art that can be used, e.g., chemically synthesizedlibraries, recombinant (e.g., phage display libraries), and in vitrotranslation-based libraries. Examples of chemically synthesizedlibraries are described in Fodor et al., 1991, Science 251:767-773;Houghten et al., 1991, Nature 354:84-86; Lam et al., 1991, Nature354:82-84; Medynski, 1994, Bio/Technology 12:709-710;Gallop et al.,1994, J. Medicinal Chemistry 37(9):1233-1251; Ohlmeyer et al., 1993,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10922-10926; Erb et al., 1994, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 91:11422-11426; Houghten et al., 1992, Biotechniques13:412; Jayawickreme et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA91:1614-1618; Salmon et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA90:11708-11712; PCT Publication No. WO 93/20242; and Brenner and Lerner,1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5381-5383.

Examples of phage display libraries are described in Scott and Smith,1990, Science 249:386-390; Devlin et al., 1990, Science, 249:404-406;Christian, R. B., et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 227:711-718); Lenstra,1992, J. Immunol. Meth. 152:149-157; Kay et al., 1993, Gene 128:59-65;and PCT Publication No. WO 94/18318 dated Aug. 18, 1994.

In vitro translation-based libraries include but are not limited tothose described in PCT Publication No. WO 91/05058 dated Apr. 18, 1991;and Mattheakis et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:9022-9026.

By way of examples of nonpeptide libraries, a benzodiazepine library(see e.g., Bunin et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:4708-4712)can be adapted for use. Peptoid libraries (Simon et al., 1992, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:9367-9371) can also be used. Another example ofa library that can be used, in which the amide functionalities inpeptides have been permethylated to generate a chemically transformedcombinatorial library, is described by Ostresh et al. (1994, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 91:11138-11142).

The variety of non-peptide libraries that are useful in the presentinvention is great. For example, Ecker and Crooke, 1995, Bio/Technology13:351-360 list benzodiazepines, hydantoins, piperazinediones,biphenyls, sugar analogs, beta-mercaptoketones, arylacetic acids,acylpiperidines, benzopyrans, cubanes, xanthines, aminimides, andoxazolones as among the chemical species that form the basis of variouslibraries.

Non-peptide libraries can be classified broadly into two types:decorated monomers and oligomers. Decorated monomer libraries employ arelatively simple scaffold structure upon which a variety functionalgroups is added. Often the scaffold will be a molecule with a knownuseful pharmacological activity. For example, the scaffold might be thebenzodiazepine structure.

Non-peptide oligomer libraries utilize a large number of monomers thatare assembled together in ways that create new shapes that depend on theorder of the monomers. Among the monomer units that have been used arecarbamates, pyrrolinones, and morpholinos. Peptoids, peptide-likeoligomers in which the side chain is attached to the alpha amino grouprather than the alpha carbon, form the basis of another version ofnon-peptide oligomer libraries. The first non-peptide oligomer librariesutilized a single type of monomer and thus contained a repeatingbackbone. Recent libraries have utilized more than one monomer, givingthe libraries added flexibility.

Screening the libraries can be accomplished by any of a variety ofcommonly known methods. See, e.g., the following references, whichdisclose screening of peptide libraries: Parmley and Smith, 1989, Adv.Exp. Med. Biol. 251:215-218; Scott and Smith, 1990, Science 249:386-390;Fowlkes et al., 1992; BioTechniques 13:422-427; Oldenburg et al., 1992,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5393-5397; Yu et al., 1994, Cell76:933-945; Staudt et al., 1988, Science 241:577-580; Bock et al., 1992,Nature 355:564-566; Tuerk et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA89:6988-6992; Ellington et al., 1992, Nature 355:850-852; U.S. Pat. Nos.5,096,815, 5,223,409, and 5,198,346, all to Ladner et al.; Rebar andPabo, 1993, Science 263:671-673; and CT Publication No. WO 94/18318.

In a specific embodiment, screening to identify a molecule that bindspolypeptides of the invention can be carried out by contacting thelibrary members with polypeptides of the invention immobilized on asolid phase and harvesting those library members that bind to thepolypeptides of the invention. Examples of such screening methods,termed “panning” techniques are described by way of example in Parnnleyand Smith, 1988, Gene 73:305-318; Fowlkes et al., 1992, BioTechniques13:422-427; PCT Publication No. WO 94/18318; and in references citedherein.

In another embodiment, the two-hybrid system for selecting interactingproteins in yeast (Fields and Song, 1989, Nature 340:245-246; Chien etal., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:9578-9582) can be used toidentify molecules that specifically bind to polypeptides of theinvention.

Where the binding molecule is a polypeptide, the polypeptide can beconveniently selected from any peptide library, including random peptidelibraries, combinatorial peptide libraries, or biased peptide libraries.The term “biased” is used herein to mean that the method of generatingthe library is manipulated so as to restrict one or more parameters thatgovern the diversity of the resulting collection of molecules, in thiscase peptides.

Thus, a truly random peptide library would generate a collection ofpeptides in which the probability of finding a particular amino acid ata given position of the peptide is the same for all 20 amino acids. Abias can be introducedinto the library, however, by specifying, forexample, that a lysine occur every fifth amino acid or that positions 4,8, and 9 of a decapeptide library be fixed to include only arginine.Clearly, many types of biases can be contemplated, and the presentinvention is not restricted to any particular bias. Furthermore, thepresent invention contemplates specific types of peptide libraries, suchas phage displayed peptide libraries and those that utilize a DNAconstruct comprising a lambda phage vector with a DNA insert.

As mentioned above, in the case of a binding molecule that is apolypeptide, the polypeptide may have about 6 to less than about 60amino acid residues, preferably about 6 to about 1 amino acid residues,and most preferably, about 6 to about 22 amino acids. In anotherembodiment, a binding polypeptide has in the range of 15-100 aminoacids, or 20-50 amino acids.

The selected binding polypeptide can be obtained by chemical synthesisor recombinant expression.

Other Activities

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention, as a result of the ability to stimulate vascular endothelialcell growth, may be employed in treatment for stimulatingre-vascularization of ischemic tissues due to various disease conditionssuch as thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascularconditions. The polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist ofthe present invention may also be employed to stimulate angiogenesis andlimb regeneration, as discussed above.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be employed for treating wounds due to injuries,burns, post-operative tissue repair, and ulcers since they are mitogenicto various cells of different origins, such as fibroblast cells andskeletal muscle cells, and therefore, facilitate the repair orreplacement of damaged or diseased tissue.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be employed stimulate neuronal growth and to treatand prevent neuronal damage which occurs in certain neuronal disordersor neuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease, and AIDS-related complex. A polypeptide,polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the present invention may havethe ability to stimulate chondrocyte growth, therefore, they may beemployed to enhance bone and periodontal regeneration and aid in tissuetransplants or bone grafts.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may be also be employed to prevent skin aging due to sunburnby stimulating keratinocyte growth.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be employed for preventing hair loss, since FGFfamily members activate hair-forming cells and promotes melanocytegrowth. Along the same lines, a polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, orantagonist of the present invention may be employed to stimulate growthand differentiation of hematopoietic cells and bone marrow cells whenused in combination with other cytokines.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be employed to maintain organs before transplantationor for supporting cell culture of primary tissues. A polypeptide,polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the present invention may alsobe employed for inducing tissue of mesodermal origin to differentiate inearly embryos.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also increase or decrease the differentiation orproliferation of embryonic stem cells, besides, as discussed above,hematopoietic lineage.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be used to modulate mammalian characteristics, suchas body height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin, percentage ofadipose tissue, pigmentation, size, and shape (e.g., cosmetic surgery).Similarly, a polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of thepresent invention may be used to modulate mammalian metabolism affectingcatabolism, anabolism, processing, utilization, and storage of energy.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may be used to treat weight disorders, including but notlimited to, obesity, cachexia, wasting disease, anorexia, and bulimia.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may be used to change a mammal's mental state or physicalstate by influencing biorhythms, caricadic rhythms, depression(including depressive disorders), tendency for violence, tolerance forpain, reproductive capabilities (preferably by Activin or Inhibin-likeactivity), hormonal or endocrine levels, appetite, libido, memory,stress, or other cognitive qualities.

A polypeptide, polynucleotide, agonist, or antagonist of the presentinvention may also be used as a food additive or preservative, such asto increase or decrease storage capabilities, fat content, lipid,protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors or othernutritional components.

The above-recited applications have uses in a wide variety of hosts.Such hosts include, but are not limited to, human, murine, rabbit, goat,guinea pig, camel, horse, mouse, rat, hamster, pig, micro-pig, chicken,goat, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate, and human. In specificembodiments, the host is a mouse, rabbit, goat, guinea pig, chicken,rat, hamster, pig, sheep, dog or cat. In preferred embodiments, the hostis a mammal. In most preferred embodiments, the host is a human.

Other Preferred Embodiments

Other preferred embodiments of the claimed invention include an isolatednucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least95% identical to a sequence of at least about 50 contiguous nucleotidesin the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strandthereto, and/or cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequence ofcontiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ IDNO:X in the range of positions identified for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast about 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, and/or cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast about 500 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, and/or cDNA plasmid:V.

A further preferred embodiment is a nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotidesequence of SEQ ID NO:X in the range of positions identified for SEQ IDNO:X in Table 1.

A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to thecomplete nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strandthereto, and/or cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule which hybridizesunder stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementarystrand thereto and/or cDNA plasmid:V, wherein said nucleic acid moleculewhich hybridizesdoes not hybridize under stringent hybridizationconditions to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotide sequenceconsisting of only A residues or of only T residues.

Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising a DNA moleculewhich comprises cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast 50 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of cDNAplasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidsequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides is included in thenucleotide sequence of an open reading frame sequence encoded by cDNAplasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to sequence of atleast 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence encoded bycDNA plasmid:V.

A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical tosequence of at least 500 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotidesequence encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to thecomplete nucleotide sequence encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

A further preferred embodiment is a method for detecting in a biologicalsample a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which isat least 95% identical. to a sequence of at least 50 contiguousnucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: anucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoand a nucleotide sequence encoded by cDNA plasmid:V; which methodcomprises a step of comparing a nucleotide sequence of at least onenucleic acid molecule in said sample with a sequence selected from saidgroup and determining whether the sequence of said nucleic acid moleculein said sample is at least 95% identical to said selected sequence.

Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences comprises determining the extent of nucleic acid hybridizationbetween nucleic acid molecules in said sample and a nucleic acidmolecule comprising said sequence selected from said group. Similarly,also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences is performed by comparing the nucleotide sequence determinedfrom a nucleic acid molecule in said sample with said sequence selectedfrom said group. The nucleic acid molecules can comprise DNA moleculesor RNA molecules.

A further preferred embodiment is a method for identifying the species,tissue or cell type of a biological sample which method comprises a stepof detecting nucleic acid molecules in said sample, if any, comprising anucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementarystrand thereto and a nucleotide sequence encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

The method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of abiological sample can comprise a step of detecting nucleic acidmolecules comprising a nucleotide sequence in a panel of at least twonucleotide sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is atleast 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotidesin a sequence selected from said group.

Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject a pathologicalcondition associated with abnormal structure or expression of anucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoor cDNA plasmid:V which encodes a protein, wherein the method comprisesa step of detecting in a biological sample obtained from said subjectnucleic acid molecules, if any, comprising a nucleotide sequence that isat least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguousnucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: anucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoand a nucleotide sequence of cDNA plasmid:V.

The method for diagnosing a pathological condition can comprise a stepof detecting nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence ina panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, wherein at least onesequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from said group.

Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising isolated nucleicacid molecules wherein the nucleotide sequences of said nucleic acidmolecules comprise a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, whereinat least one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to asequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X orthe complementary strand thereto and a nucleotide sequence encoded by.cDNA plasmid:V. The nucleic acid molecules can comprise DNA moleculesor RNA molecules.

Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10contiguous amino acids in the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; apolypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoand/or a polypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; apolypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoand/or a polypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; apolypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand theretoand/or a polypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to the complete amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementarystrand thereto and/or a polypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10contiguous amino acids in the complete amino acid sequence of apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is a polypeptide wherein said sequence of contiguousamino acids is included in the amino acid sequence of a portion of saidpolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V; a polypeptide encoded by SEQ IDNO:X or the complementary strand thereto and/or the polypeptide sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y.

Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of a polypeptideencoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of a polypeptideencoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is an isolated antibody which binds specifically to apolypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 90%identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in asequence selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or thecomplementary strand thereto and a polypeptide encoded by cDNAplasmid:V.

Further preferred is a method for detecting in a biological sample apolypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least 90%identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in asequence selected from the group consisting of: a polypeptide sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptide encoded by SEQ ID NO:X or thecomplementary strand thereto and a polypeptide encoded by cDNAplasmid:V; which method comprises a step of comparing an amino acidsequence of at least one polypeptide molecule in said sample with asequence selected from said group and determining whether the sequenceof said polypeptide molecule in said sample is at least 90% identical tosaid sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids.

Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparing anamino acid sequence of at least one polypeptide molecule in said samplewith a sequence selected from said group comprises determining theextent of specific binding of polypeptides in said sample to an antibodywhich binds specifically to a polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consistingof: a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptide encoded by SEQID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto and a polypeptide encoded bycDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences is performed by comparing the amino acid sequence determinedfrom a polypeptide molecule in said sample with said sequence selectedfrom said group.

Also preferred is a method for identifying the species, tissue or celltype of a biological sample which method comprises a step.of detectingpolypeptide molecules in said sample, if any, comprising an amino acidsequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the group consistingof: polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptide encoded by SEQ IDNO:X or the complementary strand thereto and a polypeptide encoded bycDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is the above method for identifying the species, tissueor cell type of a biological sample, which method comprises a step ofdetecting polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acid sequence in apanel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein at least onesequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequence of atleast 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the abovegroup.

Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject a pathologicalcondition associated with abnormal structure or expression of a nucleicacid sequence identified in Table 1 encoding a polypeptide, which methodcomprises a step of detecting in a biological sample obtained from saidsubject polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acid sequence in apanel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein at least onesequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequence of atleast 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptideencoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto and apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

In any of these methods, the step of detecting said polypeptidemolecules includes using an antibody.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a nucleotidesequence encoding a polypeptide wherein said polypeptide comprises anamino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of atleast 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequenceselected from the groupconsisting of: polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptideencoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto and apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidnucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide has been optimized forexpression of said polypeptide in a prokaryotic host.

Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidpolypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptideencoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto and apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V.

Further preferred is a method of making a recombinant vector comprisinginserting any of the above isolated nucleic acid molecule into a vector.Also preferred is the recombinant vector produced by this method. Alsopreferred is a method of making a recombinant host cell comprisingintroducing the vector into a host cell, as well as the recombinant hostcell produced by this method.

Also preferred is a method of making an isolated polypeptide comprisingculturing this recombinant host cell under conditions such that saidpolypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide. Also preferredis this method of making an isolated polypeptide, wherein saidrecombinant host cell is a eukaryotic cell and said polypeptide is ahuman protein comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y; a polypeptideencoded by SEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto and apolypeptide encoded by cDNA plasmid:V. The isolated polypeptide producedby this method is also preferred.

Also preferred is a method of treatment of an individual in need of anincreased level of a protein activity, which method comprisesadministering to such an individual a Therapeutic comprising an amountof an isolated polypeptide, polynucleotide, immunogenic fragment oranalogue thereof, binding agent, antibody, or antigen binding fragmentof the claimed invention effective to increase the level of said proteinactivity in said individual.

Also preferred is a method of treatment of an individual in need of adecreased level of a protein activity, which method comprisedadministering to such an individual a Therapeutic comprising an amountof an isolated polypeptide, polynucleotide, immunogenic fragment oranalogue thereof, binding agent, antibody, or antigen binding fragmentof the claimed invention effective to decrease the level of said proteinactivity in said individual.

In specific embodiments of the invention, for each “Contig ID” listed inthe fourth column of Table 2, preferably excluded are one or morepolynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, a nucleotidesequence referenced in the fifth column of Table 2 and described by thegeneral formula of a−b, whereas a and b are uniquely determined for thecorresponding SEQ ID NO:X referred to in column 3 of Table 2. Furtherspecific embodiments are directed to polynucleotide sequences excludingone, two, three, four, or more of the specific polynucleotide sequencesreferred to in the fifth column of Table 2.

Preferably excluded from the present invention are one or morepolynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of c−d, where both c and d correspond to the positionsof nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:X, and where d is greater thanor equal to c+14.

In no way is this listing meant to encompass all of the sequences whichmay be excluded by the general formula, it is just a representativeexample. All references available through these accessions are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

TABLE 2 NT SEQ cDNA ID Gene Plasmid: NO: Contig No. V X ID PublicAccession Numbers 1 HPIBL64 2 946990 AI986076, AI924027, AI923229,AW295444, AW293487, AW294040, AI363324, AA758236, AI754532, AW137221,AW071727, AI520903, AI674771, AA458935, AW451151, M62236, AI150122,C75369, AA632097, AA419026, H39019, AA766882, AI499027, AI138566,AI671505, AI936956, AW028701, AA927200, AI499889, AI937676, AI937693,AI951718, AA631584, R90852, AA831761, AW272473, R52029, AA513396,AA587691, R48195, AI309135, AW452454, AA573355, AA419183, AW172677,AW449450, AA378530, H45974, AA764719, AA975710, R88522, T84836,AA994453, AA513385, AI539197, AW297608, AI927070, AW006713, R09467,AA226932, AI191758, AW197417, AI826004, R48194, AA883402, R21426,R00335, AA767979, AI431510, AI086897, R52028, AA913158, R21427, R00228,R90882, AI001000, R09468, H45973, R88521, AA993108, AL110210, AF077000,and AF169350. 2 HTEBS63 3 947001 AI004660, AI743512, AI632258, AA056278,AI796677, AA948217, AI638630, AA053828, AI653142, AI564081, AW083088,AW025228, AW195092, AA448069, AA100026, AI142732, AA447573, AW148856,AW014752, AA725697, AA100025, AA470368, R67686, AA482316, W60607,AI476091, AA468667, AW090798, W52415, R50047, AA019854, AW006957,AI832610, AI867276, AA883894, H66884, H66840, AI922483, AA385570,H66877, H66834, AA346798, H94162, AA883634, R66086, AA515406, AA902775,AC005294, AC006582, and AC007286.

TABLE 3 cDNA Plasmid: V Library Code HPIBL64 H0038 H0039 H0040 H0051H0052 H0056 H0059 H0097 H0123 H0135 H0194 H0253 H0265 H0318 H0333 H0352H0450 H0506 H0521 H0539 H0543 H0556 H0560 H0575 H0587 H0617 H0618 H0656H0690 L1290 N0007 S0032 S0040 S0045 S0112 S0150 S0222 S6028 HTEBS63H0036 H0038 H0050 H0063 H0069 H0090 H0130 H0136 H0150 H0246 H0271 R0306H0428 H0510 H0519 H0547 H0553 H0556 H0574 H0590 H0596 H0616 H0634 H0635H0670 H0674 H0686 H0696 L1290 S0050 S0152 S0194 S0278 S0354 S0358 S0360S0374 S0378 S0380 S0404 S0406 S0408 S0438 S0442 S0444 T0067

TABLE 4 Library Code Library Description Disease H0036 Human Adult SmallIntestine H0038 Human Testes H0039 Human Pancreas Tumor disease H0040Human Testes Tumor disease H0050 Human Fetal Heart H0051 HumanHippocampus H0052 Human Cerebellum H0056 Human Umbilical Vein, Endo,remake H0059 Human Uterine Cancer disease H0063 Human Thymus H0069 HumanActivated T-Cells H0090 Human T-Cell Lymphoma disease H0097 Human AdultHeart, subtracted H0123 Human Fetal Dura Mater H0130 LNCAP untreatedH0135 Human Synovial Sarcoma H0136 Supt Cells, cyclohexamide treatedH0150 Human Epididymus H0194 Human Cerebellum, subtracted H0246 HumanFetal Liver- Enzyme subtraction H0253 Human adult testis, large insertsH0265 Activated T-Cell (12 hs)/Thiouridine labelledEco H0271 HumanNeutrophil, Activated H0306 CD34 depleted Buffy Coat (Cord Blood) H0318HUMAN B CELL LYMPHOMA disease H0333 Hemangiopericytoma disease H0352wilm's tumor disease H0428 Human Ovary H0450 CD34 + cells, II H0506Ulcerative Colitis H0510 Human Liver, normal H0519 NTERA2, control H0521Primary Dendritic Cells, lib 1 H0539 Pancreas Islet Cell Tumor diseaseH0543 T cell helper II H0547 NTERA2 teratocarcinoma cell line + retinoicacid (14 days) H0553 Human Placenta H0556 Activated T-cell(12h)/Thiouridine-re-excision H0560 KMH2 H0574 Hepatocellular Tumor,re-excision disease H0575 Human Adult Pulmonary, re-excision H0587Healing groin wound, 7.5 hours post incision disease H0590 Human adultsmall intestine, re-excision H0596 Human Colon Cancer, re-excision H0616Human Testes, Reexcision H0617 Human Primary Breast Cancer Reexcisiondisease H0618 Human Adult Testes, Large Inserts, Reexcision H0634 HumanTestes Tumor, re-excision disease H0635 Human Activated T-Cells,re-excision H0656 B-cells (unstimulated) H0670 Ovary, Cancer (4004650A3): Well-Differentiated Micropapillary Serous Carcinoma H0674 HumanProstate Cancer, Stage C, re-excission H0686 Adenocarcinoma of Ovary,Human Cell Line H0690 Ovarian Cancer, #9702G001 H0696 ProstateAdenocarcinoma L1290 Stratagene lung (#937210) N0007 Human HippocampusS0032 Smooth muscle-ILb induced S0040 Adipocytes S0045 Endothelialcells-control S0050 Human Frontal Cortex, Schizophrenia disease S0112Hypothalamus S0150 LNCAP prostate cell line S0152 PC3 Prostate cell lineS0194 Synovial hypoxia S0222 H. Frontal cortex, epileptic, re-excisiondisease S0278 H Macrophage (GM-CSF treated), re-excision S0354 ColonNormal II S0358 Colon Normal III S0360 Colon Tumor II disease S0374Normal colon S0378 Pancreas normal PCA4 No S0380 Pancreas Tumor PCA4 Tudisease S0404 Rectum normal S0406 Rectum tumour S0408 Colon, normalS0438 Liver Normal Met5No S0442 Colon Normal S0444 Colon Tumor diseaseS6028 Human Manic Depression Tissue disease T0067 Human Thyroid

Having generally described the invention, the same will be more readilyunderstood by, reference to the following examples, which are providedby way of illustration and are not intended as limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of a Selected cDNA Clone From the DepositedSample

Each cDNA clone in a cited ATCC deposit is contained in a plasmidvector. Table 1 identifies the vectors used to construct the cDNAlibrary from which each clone was isolated. In many cases, the vectorused to construct the library is a phage vector from which a plasmid hasbeen excised. The table immediately below correlates the related plasmidfor each phage vector used in constructing the cDNA library. Forexample, where a particular clone is identified in Table 1 as beingisolated in the vector “Lambda Zap,” the corresponding deposited cloneis in “pBluescript.”

Vector Used to Construct Library Corresponding Deposited Plasmid LambdaZap pBluescript (pBS) Uni-Zap XR pBluescript (pBS) Zap Express pBKlafmid BA plafmid BA pSport1 pSport1 pCMVSport 2.0 pCMVSport 2.0pCMVSport 3.0 pCMVSport 3.0 pCR ® 2.1 pCR ® 2.1

Vectors Lambda Zap (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Uni-Zap XR(U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Zap Express (U.S. Pat. Nos.5,128,256 and 5,286,636), pBluescript (pBS) (Short et al., Nucleic AcidsRes., 16:7583-7600 (1988); Alting-Mees et al., Nucleic Acids Res.,17:9494 (1989)) and pBK (Alting-Mees et al., Strategies, 5:58-61 (1992))are commercially available from Stratagene Cloning Systems, Inc., 11011N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, Calif., 92037. pBS contains anampicillin resistance gene and pBK contains a neomycin resistance gene.Both can be transformed into E. coli strain XL-1 Blue, also availablefrom Stratagene. pBS comes in 4 forms SK+, SK−, KS+ and KS. The S and Krefers to the orientation of the polylinker to the T7 and T3 primersequences which flank the polylinker region (“S” is for SacI and “K” isfor KpnI which are the first sites on each respective end of thelinker). “+” or “−” refer to the orientation of the f1 origin ofreplication (“ori”), such that in one orientation, single strandedrescue initiated from the f1 ori generates sense strand DNA and in theother, antisense.

Vectors pSport1, pCMVSport 2.0 and pCMVSport 3.0, were obtained fromLife Technologies, Inc., P. O. Box 6009, Gaithersburg, Md. 20897. AllSport vectors contain an ampicillin resistance gene and may betransformed into E. coli strain DH10B, also available from LifeTechnologies. (See, for instance, Gruber, C. E., et al., Focus 15:59(1993)). Vector lafmid BA (Bento Soares, Columbia University, NY)contains an ampicillin resistance gene and can be transformed into E.coli strain XL-1 Blue. Vector pCR®2.1, which is available fromInvitrogen, 1600 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008, contains anampicillin resistance gene and may be transformed into E. coli strainDH10B, available from Life Technologies. (See, for instance, Clark, Nuc.Acids Res., 16:9677-9686 (1988) and Mead et al., Bio/Technology, 9(1991)). Preferably, a polynucleotide of the present invention does notcomprise the phage vector sequences identified for the particular clonein Table 1, as well as the corresponding plasmid vector sequencesdesignated above.

The deposited material in the sample assigned the ATCC Deposit Numbercited in Table 1 for any given cDNA clone also may contain one or moreadditional plasmids, each comprising a cDNA clone different from thatgiven clone. Thus, deposits sharing the same ATCC Deposit Number containat least a plasmid for each cDNA Plasmid:V identified in Table 1.Typically, each ATCC deposit sample cited in Table 1 comprises a mixtureof approximately equal amounts (by weight) of about 50 plasmid DNAs,each containing a different cDNA clone; but such a deposit sample mayinclude plasmids for more or less than 50 cDNA clones, up to about 500cDNA clones.

Two approaches can be used to isolate a particular clone from thedeposited sample of plasmid DNAs cited for that clone in Table 1. First,a plasmid is directly isolated by screening the clones using apolynucleotide probe corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X.

Particularly, a specific polynucleotide with 30-40 nucleotides issynthesized using an Applied Biosystems DNA synthesizer according to thesequence reported. The oligonucleotide is labeled, for instance, with³²P-γ-ATP using T4 polynucleotide kinase and purified according toroutine methods. (E.g., Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring, N.Y. (1982)). The plasmidmixture is transformed into a suitable host, as indicated above (such asXL-1 Blue (Stratagene)) using techniques known to those of skill in theart, such as those provided by the vector supplier or in relatedpublications or patents cited above. The transformants are plated on1.5% agar plates (containing the appropriate selection agent, e.g.,ampicillin) to a density of about 150 transformants (colonies) perplate. These plates are screened using Nylon membranes according toroutine methods for bacterial colony screening (e.g., Sambrook et al.,Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edit., (1989), Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, pages 1.93 to 1.104), or other techniques knownto those of skill in the art.

Alternatively, two primers of 17-20 nucleotides derived from both endsof the SEQ ID NO:X (i.e., within the region of SEQ ID NO:X bounded bythe 5′ NT and the 3′ NT of the clone defined in Table 1) are synthesizedand used to amplify the desired cDNA using the deposited cDNA plasmnidas a template. The polymerase chain reaction is carried out underroutine conditions, for instance, in 25 μl of reaction mixture with 0.5ug of the above cDNA template. A convenient reaction mixture is 1.5-5 mMMgCl₂, 0.01% (w/v) gelatin, 20 μM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, 25pmol of each primer and 0.25 Unit of Taq polymerase. Thirty five cyclesof PCR (denaturation at 94° C. for 1 min; annealing at 55° C. for 1 min;elongation at 72° C. for 1 min) are performed with a Perkin-Elmer Cetusautomated thermal cycler. The amplified product is analyzed by agarosegel electrophoresis and the DNA band with expected molecular weight isexcised and purified. The PCR product is verified to be the selectedsequence by subcloning and sequencing the DNA product.

Several methods are available for the identification of the 5′ or 3′non-coding portions of a gene which may not be present in the depositedclone. These methods include but are not limited to, filter probing,clone enrichment using specific probes, and protocols similar oridentical to 5′ and 3′ “RACE” protocols which are well known in the art.For instance, a method similar to 5′ RACE is available for generatingthe missing 5′ end of a desired full-length transcript. (Fromont-Racineet al., Nucleic Acids Res., 21(7):1683-1684 (1993)).

Briefly, a specific RNA oligonucleotide is ligated to the 5′ ends of apopulation of RNA presumably containing full-length gene RNAtranscripts. A primer set containing a primer specific to the ligatedRNA oligonucleotide and a primer specific to a known sequence of thegene of interest is used to PCR amplify the 5′ portion of the desiredfull-length gene. This amplified product may then be sequenced and usedto generate the full length gene.

This above method starts with total RNA isolated from the desiredsource, although poly-A+ RNA can be used. The RNA preparation can thenbe treated with phosphatase if necessary to eliminate 5′ phosphategroups on degraded or damaged RNA which may interfere with the later RNAligase step. The phosphatase should then be inactivated and the RNAtreated with tobacco acid pyrophosphatase in order to remove the capstructure present at the 5′ ends of messenger RNAs. This reaction leavesa 5′ phosphate group at the 5′ end of the cap cleaved RNA which can thenbe ligated to an RNA oligonucleotide using T4 RNA ligase.

This modified RNA preparation is used as a template for first strandcDNA synthesis using a gene specific oligonucleotide. The first strandsynthesis reaction is used as a template for PCR amplification of thedesired 5′ end using a primer specific to the ligated RNAoligonucleotide and a primer specific to the known sequence of the geneof interest. The resultant product is then sequenced and analyzed toconfirm that the 5′ end sequence belongs to the desired gene.

Example 2 Isolation of Genomic Clones Corresponding to a Polynucleotide

A human genomic P1 library (Genomic Systems, Inc.) is screened by PCRusing primers selected for the cDNA sequence corresponding to SEQ IDNO:X., according to the method described in Example 1. (See also,Sambrook.)

Example 3 Tissue Distribution of Polypeptide

Tissue distribution of mRNA expression of polynucleotides of the presentinvention is determined using protocols for Northern blot analysis,described by, among others, Sambrook et al. For example, a cDNA probeproduced by the method described in Example 1 is labeled with p³² usingthe rediprime™ DNA labeling system (Amersham Life Science), according tomanufacturer's instructions. After labeling, the probe is purified usingCHROMA SPIN-100™ column (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), according tomanufacturer's protocol number PT1200-1. The purified labeled probe isthen used to examine various human tissues for mRNA expression.

Multiple Tissue Northern (MTN) blots containing various human tissues(H) or human immune system tissues (IM) (Clontech) are examined with thelabeled probe using ExpressHyb™ hybridization solution (Clontech)according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1190-1. Followinghybridization and washing, the blots are mounted and exposed to film at−70° C. overnight, and the films developed according to standardprocedures.

Example 4 Chromosomal Mapping of the Polynucleotides

An oligonucleotide primer set is designed according to the sequence atthe 5′ end of SEQ ID NO:X. This primer preferably spans about 100nucleotides. This primer set is then used in a polymerase chain reactionunder the following set of conditions: 30 seconds, 95° C.; 1 minute, 56°C.; 1 minute, 70° C. This cycle is repeated 32 times followed by one 5minute cycle at 70° C. Human, mouse, and hamster DNA is used as templatein addition to a somatic cell hybrid panel containing individualchromosomes or chromosome fragments (Bios, Inc). The reactions isanalyzed on either 8% polyacrylamide gels or 3.5% agarose gels.Chromosome mapping is determined by the presence of an approximately 100bp PCR fragment in the particular somatic cell hybrid.

Example 5 Bacterial Expression of a Polypeptide

A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present invention isamplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′ and3′ ends of the DNA sequence, as outlined in Example 1, to synthesizeinsertion fragments. The primers used to amplify the cDNA insert shouldpreferably contain restriction sites, such as BamHI and XbaI andinitiation/stop codons, if necessary, to clone the amplified productinto the expression vector. For example, BamHI and XbaI correspond tothe restriction enzyme sites on the bacterial expression vector pQE-9.(Qiagen, Inc., Chatsworth, Calif.). This plasmid vector encodesantibiotic resistance (Amp^(r)), a bacterial origin of replication(ori), an IPTG-regulatable promoter/operator (P/O), a ribosome bindingsite (RBS), a 6-histidine tag (6-His), and restriction enzyme cloningsites.

The pQE-9 vector is digested with BamHI and XbaI and the amplifiedfragment is ligated into the pQE-9 vector maintaining the reading frameinitiated at the bacterial RBS. The ligation mixture is then used totransform the E. coli strain M15/rep4 (Qiagen, Inc.) which containsmultiple copies of the plasmid pREP4, which expresses the lacI repressorand also confers kanamycin resistance (Kan^(r)). Transformants areidentified by their ability to grow on LB plates andampicillin/kanamycin resistant colonies are selected. Plasmid DNA isisolated and confirmed by restriction analysis.

Clones containing the desired constructs are grown overnight (O/N) inliquid culture in LB media supplemented with both Amp (100 ug/ml) andKan (25 ug/ml). The O/N culture is used to inoculate a large culture ata ratio of 1:100 to 1:250. The cells are grown to an optical density 600(O.D.⁶⁰⁰) of between 0.4 and 0.6. IPTG (Isopropyl-B-D-thiogalactopyranoside) is then added to a final concentration of 1 mM. IPTG inducesby inactivating the lacI repressor, clearing the P/O leading toincreased gene expression.

Cells are grown for an extra 3 to 4 hours. Cells are then harvested bycentrifugation (20 mins at 6000×g). The cell pellet is solubilized inthe chaotropic agent 6 Molar Guanidine HCl by stirring for 3-4 hours at4° C. The cell debris is removed by centrifugation, and the supernatantcontaining the polypeptide is loaded onto a nickel-nitrilo-tri-aceticacid (“Ni-NTA”) affinity resin column (available from QIAGEN, Inc.,supra). Proteins with a 6× His tag bind to the Ni-NTA resin with highaffinity and can be purified in a simple one-step procedure (for detailssee: The QlAexpressionist (1995) QIAGEN, Inc., supra).

Briefly, the supernatant is loaded onto the column in 6 M guanidine-HCl,pH 8, the column is first washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl,pH 8, then washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl pH 6, and finallythe polypeptide is eluted with 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 5.

The purified protein is then renatured by dialyzing it againstphosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 50 mM Na-acetate, pH 6 buffer plus200 mM NaCl. Alternatively, the protein can be successfully refoldedwhile immobilized on the Ni-NTA column. The recommended conditions areas follows: renature using a linear 6M-1M urea gradient in 500 mM NaCl,20% glycerol, 20 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.4, containing protease inhibitors. Therenaturation should be performed over a period of 1.5 hours or more.After renaturation the proteins are eluted by the&addition of 250 mMimmidazole. Immidazole is removed by a final dialyzing step against PBSor 50 mM sodium acetate pH 6 buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. The purifiedprotein is stored at 4° C. or frozen at −80° C.

In addition to the above expression vector, the present inventionfurther includes an expression vector comprising phage operator andpromoter elements operatively linked to a polynucleotide of the presentinvention, called pHE4a. (ATCC Accession Number 209645, deposited onFeb. 25, 1998.) This vector contains: 1) a neomycinphosphotransferasegene as a selection marker, 2) an E. coli origin of replication, 3) a T5phage promoter sequence, 4) two lac operator sequences, 5) aShine-Delgarno sequence, and 6) the lactose operon repressor gene(lacIq). The origin of replication (oriC) is derived from pUC19 (LTI,Gaithersburg, Md.). The promoter sequence and operator sequences aremade synthetically.

DNA can be inserted into the pHEa by restricting the vector with NdeIand XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718, running the restricted product on agel, and isolating the larger fragment (the stuffer fragment should beabout 310 base pairs). The DNA insert is generated according to the PCRprotocol described in Example 1, using PCR primers having restrictionsites for NdeI (5′ primer) and XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718 (3′ primer).The PCR insert is gel purified and restricted with compatible enzymes.The insert and vector are ligated according to standard protocols.

The engineered vector could easily be substituted in the above protocolto express protein in a bacterial system.

Example 6 Purification of a Polypeptide from an Inclusion Body

The following alternative method can be used to purify a polypeptideexpressed in E coli when it is present in the form of inclusion bodies.Unless otherwise specified, all of the following steps are conducted at4-10° C.

Upon completion of the production phase of the E. coli fermentation, thecell culture is cooled to 4-10° C. and the cells harvested by continuouscentrifugation at 15,000 rpm (Heraeus Sepatech). On the basis of theexpected yield of protein per unit weight of cell paste and the amountof purified protein required, an appropriate amount of cell paste, byweight, is suspended in a buffer solution containing 100 mM Tris, 50 mMEDTA, pH 7.4. The cells are dispersed to a homogeneous suspension usinga high shear mixer.

The cells are then lysed by passing the solution through amicrofluidizer (Microfuidics, Corp. or APV Gaulin, Inc.) twice at4000-6000 psi. The homogenate is then mixed with NaCl solution to afinal concentration of 0.5 M NaCl, followed by centrifugation at 7000×gfor 15 min. The resultant pellet is washed again using 0.5M NaCl, 100 mMTris, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.4.

The resulting washed inclusion bodies are solubilized with 1.5 Mguanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) for 2-4 hours. After 7000×gcentrifugation for 15 min., the pellet is discarded and the polypeptidecontaining supernatant is incubated at 4° C. overnight to allow furtherGuHCl extraction.

Following high speed centrifugation (30,000×g) to remove insolubleparticles, the GuHCl solubilized protein is refolded by quickly mixingthe GuHCl extract with 20 volumes of buffer containing 50 mM sodium, pH4.5, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA by vigorous stirring. The refolded dilutedprotein solution is kept at 4° C. without mixing for 12 hours prior tofurther purification steps.

To clarify the refolded polypeptide solution, a previously preparedtangential filtration unit equipped with 0.16 μm membrane filter withappropriate surface area (e.g., Filtron), equilibrated with 40 mM sodiumacetate, pH 6.0 is employed. The filtered sample is loaded onto a cationexchange resin (e.g., Poros HS-50, Perseptiive Biosystems). The columnis washed with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 and eluted with 250 mM, 500mM, 1000 mM, and 1500 mM NaCl in the same buffer, in a stepwise manner.The absorbance at 280 nm of the effluent is continuously monitored.Fractions are collected and further analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

Fractions containing the polypeptide are then pooled and mixed with 4volumes of water. The diluted sample is then loaded onto a previouslyprepared set of tandem columns of strong anion (Poros HQ-50, PerseptiveBiosystems) and weak anion (Poros CM-20, Perseptive Biosystems) exchangeresins. The columns are equilibrated with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0.Both columns are washed with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0, 200 mM NaCl.The CM-20 column is then eluted using a 10 column volume linear gradientranging from 0.2 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 to 1.0 M NaCl, 50mM sodium acetate, pH 6.5. Fractions are collected under constant A₂₈₀monitoring of the effluent. Fractions containing the polypeptide(determined, for instance, by 16% SDS-PAGE) are then pooled.

The resultant polypeptide should exhibit greater than 95% purity afterthe above refolding and purification steps. No major contaminant bandsshould be observed from Commassie blue stained 16% SDS-PAGE gel when 5μg of purified protein is loaded. The purified protein can also betested for endotoxin/LPS contamination, and typically the LPS content isless than 0.1 ng/ml according to LAL assays.

Example 7 Cloning and Expression of a Polypeptide in a BaculovirusExpression System

In this example, the plasmid shuttle vector pA2 is used to insert apolynucleotide into a baculovirus to express a polypeptide. Thisexpression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of theAutographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) followed byconvenient restriction sites such as BamHI, Xba I and Asp718. Thepolyadenylation site of the simian virus 40 (“SV40”) is used forefficient polyadenylation. For easy selection of recombinant virus, theplasmid contains the beta-galactosidase gene from E. coli under controlof a weak Drosophila promoter in the same orientation, followed by thepolyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The inserted genes areflanked on both sides by viral sequences for cell-mediated homologousrecombination with wild-type viral DNA to generate a viable virus thatexpress the cloned polynucleotide.

Many other baculovirus vectors can be used in place of the vector above,such as pAc373, pVL941, and pAcIM1, as one skilled in the art wouldreadily appreciate, as long as the construct provides appropriatelylocated signals for transcription, translation, secretion and the like,including a signal peptide and an in-frame AUG as required. Such vectorsare described, for instance, in Luckow et al., Virology 170:31-39(1989).

Specifically, the cDNA sequence contained in the deposited clone isamplified using the PCR protocol described in Example 1 using primerswith appropriate restriction sites and initiation/stop codons. If thenaturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce the secretedprotein, the pA2 vector does not need a second signal peptide.Alternatively, the vector can be modified (pA2 GP) to include abaculovirus leader sequence, using the standard methods described inSummers et al., “A Manual of Methods for Baculovirus Vectors and InsectCell Culture Procedures,” Texas Agricultural Experimental StationBulletin NO: 1555 (1987).

The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using acommercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla,Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restrictionenzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

The plasmid is digested with the corresponding restriction enzymes andoptionally, can be dephosphorylated using calf intestinal phosphatase,using routine procedures known in the art. The DNA is then isolated froma 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit (“Geneclean” BIO 101Inc., La Jolla, Calif.).

The fragment and the dephosphorylated plasmid are ligated together withT4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB101 or other suitable E. coli hosts such asXL-1 Blue (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.) cells aretransformed with the ligation mixture and spread on culture plates.Bacteria containing the plasmid are identified by digesting DNA fromindividual colonies and analyzing the digestion product by gelelectrophoresis. The sequence of the cloned fragment is confirmed by DNAsequencing.

Five μg of a plasmid containing the polynucleotide is co-transfectedwith 1.0 μg of a commercially available linearized baculovirus DNA(“BaculoGold™ baculovirus DNA”, Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.), usingthe lipofection method described by Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 84:7413-7417 (1987). One μg of BaculoGold™ virus DNA and 5 μgof the plasmid are mixed in a sterile well of a microtiter platecontaining 50 μl of serum-free Grace's medium (Life Technologies Inc.,Gaithersburg, Md.). Afterwards, 10 μl Lipofectin plus 90 μl Grace'smedium are added, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at roomtemperature. Then the transfection mixture is added drop-wise to Sf9insect cells (ATCC CRL 1711) seeded in a 35 mm tissue culture plate with1 ml Grace's medium without serum. The plate is then incubated for 5hours at 27° C. The transfection solution is then removed from the plateand 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serumis added. Cultivation is then continued at 27° C. for four days.

After four days the supernatant is collected and a plaque assay isperformed, as described by Summers and Smith, supra. An agarose gel with“Blue Gal” (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) is used to allow easyidentification and isolation of gal-expressing clones, which produceblue-stained plaques. (A detailed description of a “plaque assay” ofthis type can also be found in the user's guide for insect cell cultureand baculovirology distributed by Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg,page 9-10.) After appropriate incubation, blue stained plaques arepicked with the tip of a micropipetor (e.g., Eppendorf). The agarcontaining the recombinant viruses is then resuspended in amicrocentrifuge tube containing 200 μl of Grace's medium and thesuspension containing the recombinant baculovirus is used to infect Sf9cells seeded in 35 mm dishes. Four days later the supernatants of theseculture dishes are harvested and then they are stored at 4° C.

To verify the expression of the polypeptide, Sf9 cells are grown inGrace's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FBS. The cells areinfected with the recombinant baculovirus containing the polynucleotideat a multiplicity of infection (“MOI”) of about 2. If radiolabeledproteins are desired, 6 hours later the medium is removed and isreplaced with SF900 II medium minus methionine and cysteine (availablefrom Life Technologies Inc., Rockville, Md.). After 42 hours, 5 μCi of³⁵S-methionine and 5 μCi ³⁵S-cysteine (available from Amersham) areadded. The cells are further incubated for 16 hours and then areharvested by centrifugation. The proteins in the supernatant as well asthe intracellular proteins are analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed byautoradiography (if radiolabeled).

Microsequencing of the amino acid sequence of the amino terminus ofpurified protein may be used to determine the amino terminal sequence ofthe produced protein.

Example 8 Expression of a Polypeptide in Mammalian Cells

The polypeptide of the present invention can be expressed in a mammaliancell. A typical mammalian expression vector contains a promoter element,which mediates the initiation of transcription of mRNA, a protein codingsequence, and signals required for the termination of transcription andpolyadenylation of the transcript. Additional elements includeenhancers, Kozak sequences and intervening sequences flanked by donorand acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highly efficient transcription isachieved with the early and late promoters from SV40, the long terminalrepeats (LTRs) from Retroviruses, e.g., RSV, HTLVI, HIVI and the earlypromoter of the cytomegalovirus (CMV). However, cellular elements canalso be used (e.g., the human actin promoter).

Suitable expression vectors for use in practicing the present inventioninclude, for example, vectors such as pSVL and pMSG (Pharmacia, Uppsala,Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC 37146), pBC12MI (ATCC67109), pCMVSport 2.0, and pCMVSport 3.0. Mammalian host cells thatcould be used include, human Hela, 293, H9 and Jurkat cells, mouseNIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos 1, Cos 7 and CV1, quail QC1-3 cells, mouse Lcells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

Alternatively, the polypeptide can be expressed in stable cell linescontaining the polynucleotide integrated into a chromosome. Theco-transfection with a selectable marker such as dhfr, gpt, neomycin,hygromycin allows the identification and isolation of the transfectedcells.

The transfected gene can also be amplified to express large amounts ofthe encoded protein. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) marker is usefulin developing cell lines that carry several hundred or even severalthousand copies of the gene of interest. (See, e.g., Alt et al., J.Biol. Chem., 253:1357-1370 (1978); Hamlin et al., Biochem. et. Biophys.Acta, 1097:107-143 (1990); Page et al., Biotechnology, 9:64-68 (1991)).Another useful selection marker is the enzyme glutarnine synthase (GS)(Murphy et al., Biochem J., 227:277-279 (1991); Bebbington et al.,Bio/Technology, 10:169-175 (1992). Using these markers, the mammaliancells are grown in selective medium and the cells with the highestresistance are selected. These cell lines contain the amplified gene(s)integrated into a chromosome. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and NSO cellsare often used for the production of proteins.

Derivatives of the plasmid pSV2-dhfr (ATCC Accession No.: 37146), theexpression vectors pC4 (ATCC Accession No.: 209646) and pC6 (ATCCAccession No.:209647) contain the strong promoter (LTR) of the RousSarcoma Virus (Cullen et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 438-447(March, 1985)) plus a fragment of the CMV-enhancer (Boshart et al.,Cell, 41:521-530 (1985)). Multiple cloning sites, e.g., with therestriction enzyme cleavage sites BamHI, XbaI and Asp718, facilitate thecloning of the gene of interest. The vectors also contain the 3′ intron,the polyadenylation and termination signal of the rat preproinsulingene, and the mouse DHFR gene under control of the SV40 early promoter.

Specifically, the plasmid pC6, for example, is digested with appropriaterestriction enzymes and then dephosphorylated using calf intestinalphosphates by procedures known in the art. The vector is then isolatedfrom a 1% agarose gel.

A polynucleotide of the present invention is amplified according to theprotocol outlined in Example 1 using primers with appropriaterestrictions sites and initiation/stop codons, if necessary. The vectorcan be modified to include a heterologous signal sequence if necessaryfor secretion. (See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using acommercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla,Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restrictionenzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

The amplified fragment is then digested with the same restriction enzymeand purified on a 1% agarose gel. The isolated fragment and thedephosphorylated vector are then ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E. coliHB101 or XL-1 Blue cells are then transformed and bacteria areidentified that contain the fragment inserted into plasmid pC6 using,for instance, restriction enzyme analysis.

Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking an active DHFR gene is used fortransfection. Five μg of the expression plasmid pC6 is cotransfectedwith 0.5 μg of the plasmid pSVneo using lipofectin (Felgner et al.,supra). The plasmid pSV2-neo contains a dominant selectable marker, theneo gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confers resistance to a groupof antibiotics including G418. The cells are seeded in alpha minus MEMsupplemented with 1 mg/ml G418. After 2 days, the cells are trypsinizedand seeded in hybridoma cloning plates (Greiner, Germany) in alpha minusMEM supplemented with 10, 25, or 50 ng/ml of metothrexate plus 1 mg/mlG418. After about 10-14 days single clones are trypsinized and thenseeded in 6-well petri dishes. or 10 ml flasks using differentconcentrations of methotrexate (50 nM, 100 nM, 200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM).Clones growing at the highest concentrations of methotrexate are thentransferred to new 6-well plates containing even higher concentrationsof methotrexate (1 μM, 2 μM, 5 μM, 10 mM, 20 mM). The same procedure isrepeated until clones are obtained which grow at a concentration of100-200 μM. Expression of the desired gene product is analyzed, forinstance, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot or by reversed phase HPLCanalysis.

Example 9 Protein Fusions

The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably fused to otherproteins. These fusion proteins can be used for a variety ofapplications. For example, fusion of the present polypeptides toHis-tag, HA-tag, protein A, IgG domains, and maltose binding proteinfacilitates purification. (See Example-5; see also EP A 394,827;Traunecker, et al., Nature, 331:84-86 (1988)) The polypeptides can alsobe fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences to facilitate secretionand intracellular trafficking (e.g., KDEL). Moreover, fusion to IgG-1,IgG-3, and albumin increases the halflife time in vivo. Nuclearlocalization signals fused to the polypeptides of the present inventioncan target the protein to a specific subcellular localization, whilecovalent heterodimer or homodimers can increase or decrease the activityof a fusion protein. Fusion proteins can also create chimeric moleculeshaving more than one function. Finally, fusion proteins can increasesolubility and/or stability of the fused protein compared to thenon-fused protein. All of the types of fusion proteins described abovecan be made by modifying the following protocol, which outlines thefusion of a polypeptide to an IgG molecule, or the protocol described inExample 5.

Briefly, the human Fc portion of the IgG molecule can be PCR amplified,using primers that span the 5′ and 3′ ends of the sequence describedbelow. These primers also should have convenient restriction enzymesites that will facilitate cloning into an expression vector, preferablya mammalian expression vector, and initiation/stop codons, if necessary.

For example, if pC4 (Accession No.: 209646) is used, the human Fcportion can be ligated into the BamHI cloning site. Note that the 3′BamHI site should be destroyed. Next, the vector containing the human Fcportion is re-restricted with BamHI, linearizing the vector, and apolynucleotide of the present invention, isolated by the PCR protocoldescribed in Example 1, is ligated into this BamHI site. Note that thepolynucleotide is cloned without a stop codon, otherwise a fusionprotein will not be produced.

If the naturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce thesecreted protein, pC4 does not need a second signal peptide.Alternatively, if the naturally occurring signal sequence is not used,the vector can be modified to include a heterologous signal sequence.(See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

Human IgG Fc region:GGGATCCGGAGCCCAAATCTTCTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACCGTGCCCAGCACCTGAAT (SEQ IDNO: 1) TCGAGGGTGCACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACTCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTAAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTACAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTGGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCAACCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAACCACAGGTGTACACCCTGCCCCCATCCCGGGATGAGCTGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACCTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCAAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAATGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTACAGCAAGCTCACCGTGGACAAGAGCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCATGAGGGTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGGGTAAATGAGTGCGACGGCCGCGACTCTAGAGGAT

Example 10 Formulatine a Polypeptide

The invention also provides methods of treatment and/or prevention ofdiseases or disorders (such as, for example, any one or more of thediseases or disorders disclosed herein) by administration to a subjectof an effective amount of a Therapeutic. By Therapeutic is meantpolynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention (including fragmentsand variants), agonists or antagonists thereof, and/or antibodiesthereto, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier type(e.g., a sterile carrier).

The polypeptide composition will be formulated and dosed in a fashionconsistent with good medical practice, taking into account the clinicalcondition of the individual patient (especially the side effects oftreatment with the secreted polypeptide alone), the site of delivery,the method of administration, the scheduling of administration, andother factors known to practitioners. The “effective amount” forpurposes herein is thus determined by such considerations.

As a general proposition, the total pharmaceutically effective amount ofpolypeptide administered parenterally per dose will be in the range ofabout 1 μg/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day of patient body weight, although, asnoted above, this will be subject to therapeutic discretion. Morepreferably, this dose is at least 0.01 mg/kg/day, and most preferablyfor humans between about 0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day for the hormone. If givencontinuously, the polypeptide is typically administered at a dose rateof about 1 μg/kg/hour to about 50 μg/kg/hour, either by 1-4 injectionsper day or by continuous subcutaneous infusions, for example, using amini-pump. An intravenous bag solution may also be employed. The lengthof treatment needed to observe changes and the interval followingtreatment for responses to occur appears to vary depending on thedesired effect.

Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptide of the inventionare administered orally, rectally, parenterally, intracistemally,intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as by powders, ointments,gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as an oral or nasalspray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a non-toxicsolid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulating material orformulation auxiliary of any type. The term “parenteral” as used hereinrefers to modes of administration which include intravenous,intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous andintraarticular injection and infusion.

The polypeptide is also suitably administered by sustained-releasesystems. Suitable examples of sustained-release compositions includesemi-permeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g.,films, or mirocapsules. Sustained-release matrices include polylactides(U.S. Pat. No: 3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid andgamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers, 22:547-556 (1983)),poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater. Res.15:167-277 (1981), and Langer, Chem. Tech., 12:98-105 (1982)), ethylenevinyl acetate (R. Langer et al.) or poly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP133,988).

In a preferred embodiment, compositions of the invention are formulatedin a biodegradable, polymeric drug delivery system, for example asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,938,763; 5,278,201; 5,278,202; 5,324,519;5,340,849; and 5,487,897 and in International Publication NumbersWO01/35929, WO00/24374, and WO00/06117 which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. In specific preferred embodiments thecompositions of the invention are formulated using the ATRIGELO®Biodegradable System of Atrix Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Collins, Colo.).

Examples of biodegradable polymers which can be used in the formulationof compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to,polylactides, polyglycolides, polycaprolactones, polyanhydrides,polyamides, polyurethanes, polyesteramides, polyorthoesters,polydioxanones, polyacetals, polyketals, polycarbonates,polyorthocarbonates, polyphosphazenes, polyhydroxybutyrates,polyhydroxyvalerates, polyalkylene oxalates, polyalkylene succinates,poly(malic acid), poly(amino acids), poly(methyl vinyl ether),poly(maleic anhydride), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol,polyhydroxycellulose, chitin, chitosan, and copolymers, terpolymers, orcombinations or mixtures of the above materials. The preferred polymersare those that have a lower degree of crystallization and are morehydrophobic. These polymers and copolymers are more soluble in thebiocompatible solvents than the highly crystalline polymers such aspolyglycolide and chitin which also have a high degree ofhydrogen-bonding. Preferred materials with the desired solubilityparameters are the polylactides, polycaprolactones, and copolymers ofthese with glycolide in which there are more amorphous regions toenhance solubility. In specific preferred embodiments, the biodegradablepolymers which can be used in the formulation of compositions of theinvention are poly(lactide-co-glycolides). Polymer properties such asmolecular weight, hydrophobicity, and lactide/glycolide ratio may bemodified to obtain the desired drug release profile (See, e.g.,Ravivarapu et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 89:732-741 (2000),which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety).

It is also preferred that the solvent for the biodegradable polymer benon-toxic, water miscible, and otherwise biocompatible. Examples of suchsolvents include, but are not limted to, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone,2-pyrrolidone, C2 to C6 alkanols, C1 to C15 alchohols, dils, triols, andtetraols such as ethanol, glycerine propylene glycol, butanol; C3 to C15alkyl ketones such as acetone, diethyl ketone and methyl ethyl ketone;C3 to C15 esters such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate;alkyl ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, C1 to C15 amides such asdimethylformarnide, dimethylacetamide and caprolactam; C3 to C20 etherssuch as tetrahydrofuran, or solketal; iweens, triacetin, propylenecarbonate, decylmethyisulfoxide, dimethyl sulfoxide, oleic acid,1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one. Other preferred solvents are benzyl;alchohol, benzyl benzoate, dipropylene glycol, tributyrin, ethyl oleate,glycerin, glycofural, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, oleicacid, polyethylene glycol, propylene carbonate, and triethyl citrate.The most preferred solvents are N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone,dimethyl sulfoxide, triacetin, and propylene carbonate because of thesolvating ability and their compatibility.

Additionally, formulations comprising compositions of the invention anda biodegradable polymer may also include release-rate modificationagents and/or pore-forming agents. Examples of release-rate modificationagents include, but are not limited to, fatty acids, triglycerides,other like hydrophobic compounds, organic solvents, plasticizingcompounds and hydrophilic compounds. Suitable release rate modificationagents include, for example, esters of mono-, di-, and tricarboxylicacids, such as 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate,diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dimethyladipate, dimethyl succinate, dimethyl oxalate, dimethyl citrate,triethyl citrate, acetyl tributyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate,glycerol triacetate, di(n-butyl) sebecate, and the like; polyhydroxyalcohols, such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerin,sorbitol, and the like; fatty acids; triesters of glycerol, such astriglycerides, epoxidized soybean oil, and other epoxidized vegetableoils; sterols, such as cholesterol; alcohols, such as C.sub.6 -C.sub.12alkanols, 2-ethoxyethanol, and the like. The release rate modificationagent may be used singly or in combination with other such agents.Suitable combinations of release rate modification agents include, butare not limited to, glycerin/propylene glycol, sorbitol/glycerine,ethylene oxideipropylene oxide, butylene glycol/adipic acid, and thelike. Preferred release rate modification agents include, but are notlimited to, dimethyl citrate, triethyl citrate, ethyl heptanoate,glycerin, and hexanediol. Suitable pore-forming agents that may be usedin the polymer composition include, but are not limited to, sugars suchas sucrose and dextrose, salts such as sodium chloride and sodiumcarbonate, polymers such as hydroxylpropylcellulose, acarboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.Solid crystals that will provide a defined pore size, such as salt orsugar, are preferred.

In specific preferred embodiments the compositions of the invention areformulated using the BEMA™ BioErodible Mucoadhesive System, MCA™MucoCutaneous Absorption System, SMP™ Solvent MicroParticle System, orBCP™ BioCompatible Polymer System of Atrix Laboratories, Inc. (FortCollins, Colo.).

Sustained-release compositions also include liposomally entrappedpolypeptides. Liposomes containing the secreted polypeptide are preparedby methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci USA, 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676; EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, the liposomes are of the small(about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type in which the lipid content isgreater than about 30 mol. percent cholesterol, the selected proportionbeing adjusted for the optimal secreted polypeptide therapy.

For parenteral administration, in one embodiment, the polypeptide isformulated generally by mixing it at the desired degree of purity, in aunit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion), with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, i.e., one that is non-toxic torecipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatiblewith other ingredients of the formulation. For example, the formulationpreferably does not include oxidizing agents and other compounds thatare known to be deleterious to polypeptides.

Generally, the formulations are prepared by contacting the polypeptideuniformly and intimately with liquid carriers or finely divided solidcarriers or both. Then, if necessary, the product is shaped into thedesired formulation. Preferably the carrier is a parenteral carrier,more preferably a solution that is isotonic with the blood of therecipient. Examples of such carrier vehicles include water, saline,Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution. Non-aqueous vehicles such asfixed oils and ethyl oleate are also useful herein, as well asliposomes.

The carrier suitably contains minor amounts of additives such assubstances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Suchmaterials are non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrationsemployed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate; succinate,acetic acid, and other organic acids or their salts; antioxidants suchas ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about ten residues)polypeptides, e.g., polyarginine or tripeptides; proteins, such as serumalbumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid,aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and othercarbohydrates including cellulose or its derivatives, glucose, manose,or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such asmannitol or sorbitol; counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionicsurfactants such as polysorbates, poloxamers, or PEG.

The polypeptide is typically formulated in such vehicles at aconcentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml, preferably 1-10 mg/ml, ata pH of about 3 to 8. It will be understood that the use of certain ofthe foregoing excipients, carriers, or stabilizers will result in theformation of polypeptide salts.

Any polypeptide to be used for therapeutic administration can besterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterilefiltration membranes (e.g., 0.2 micron membranes). Therapeuticpolypeptide compositions generally are placed into a container having asterile access port, for examplei an intravenous solution bag or vialhaving a stopper pierceable by a hypodermic injection needle.

Polypeptides ordinarily will be stored in unit or multidose containers,for example, sealed ampoules or vials, as an aqueous solution or as alyophilized formulation for reconstitution. As an example of alyophilized formulation, 10-ml vials are filled with 5 ml ofsterile-filtered 1% (w/v) aqueous polypeptide solution, and theresulting mixture is lyophilized. The infusion solution is prepared byreconstituting the lyophilized polypeptide using bacteriostaticWater-for-Injection.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising oneor more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients of thepharmaceutical compositions of the invention. Associated with suchcontainer(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmentalagency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals orbiological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency ofmanufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, thepolypeptides of the present invention may be employed in conjunctionwith other therapeutic compounds.

The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with adjuvants. Adjuvants that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, alum,alum plus deoxycholate (ImmunoAg), MTP-PE (Biocine Corp.), QS21(Genentech, Inc.), BCG (e.g., THERACYS®), MPL and nonviable prepartionsof Corynebacterium parvum. In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are administered in combination with alum. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with QS-21. Further adjuvants that may be administered withthe Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,Monophosphoryl lipid immunomodulator, AdjuVax 100a, QS-21, QS-18,CRL1005, Aluminum salts, MF-59, and Virosomal adjuvant technology.Vaccines that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, vaccines directed toward protectionagainst MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio, varicella,tetanus/diptheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae B,whooping cough, pneumonia, influenza, Lyme's Disease, rotavirus,cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, poliomyelitis, rabies,typhoid fever, and pertussis. Combinations may be administered eitherconcomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously orconcurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which thecombined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, andalso procedures in which the combined agents are administered separatelybut simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into thesame individual. Administration “in combination” further includes theseparate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first,followed by the second.

The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with other therapeutic agents. Therapeutic agents that maybe administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention,include but not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics,steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, conventionalimmunotherapeutic agents, and/or therapeutic treatments described below.Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as anadmixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; orsequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agentsare administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also proceduresin which the combined agents are administered separately butsimultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into thesame individual. Administration “in combination” further includes theseparate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first,followed by the second.

In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with an anticoagulant. Anticoagulants that may beadministered with the compositions of the invention include, but are notlimited to, heparin, low molecular weight heparin, warfarin sodium(e.g., COUMADIN®), dicumarol, 4-hydroxycoumarin, anisindione (e.g.,MIRADON™), acenocoumarol (e.g., nicoumalone, SINTHROME™),indan-1,3-dione, phenprocoumon (e.g., MARCUMAR™), ethyl biscdumacetate(e.g., TROMEXAN™), and aspirin. In a specific embodiment, compositionsof the invention are administered in combination with heparin and/orwarfarin. In another specific embodiment, compositions of the inventionare administered in combination with warfarin. In another specificembodiment, compositions of the invention are administered incombination with warfarin and aspirin. In another specific embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered in combination withheparin. In another specific embodiment, compositions of the inventionare administered in combination with heparin and aspirin.

In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with thrombolytic drugs. Thrombolytic drugsthat may be administered with the compositions of the invention include,but are not limited to, plasminogen, lys-plasminogen,alpha2-antiplasmin, streptokinae (e.g.,KABIKINASE™), antiresplace (e.g.,EMINASE™), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA, altevase, ACTIVASE™),urokinase (e.g., ABBOKINASE™), sauruplase, (Prourokinase, single chainurokinase), and aminocaproic acid (e.g., AMICAR™). In a specificembodiment, compositions of the invention are administered incombination with tissue plasminogen activator and aspirin.

In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with antiplatelet drugs. Antiplatelet drugsthat may be administered with the compositions of the invention include,but are not limited to, aspirin, dipyridamole (e.g., PERSANTINE™), andticlopidine (e.g., TICLID™).

In specific embodiments, the use of anticoagulants, thrombolytic and/orantiplatelet drugs in combination with Therapeutics of the invention iscontemplated for the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment ofthrombosis, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, thromboembolism,pulmonary embolism, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, transientischemic attack, unstable angina In specific embodiments, the. use ofanticoagulants, thrombolytic drugs and/or antiplatelet drugs incombination with Therapeutics of the invention is contemplated for theprevention of occulsion of saphenous grafts, for reducing the risk ofperiprocedural thrombosis as might accompany angioplasty procedures, forreducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillationincluding nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, for reducing the risk ofembolism associated with mechanical heart valves and or mitral valvesdisease. Other uses for the therapeutics of the invention, alone or incombination with antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and/or thrombolytic drugs,include, but are not limited to, the prevention of occlusions inextracorporeal devices (e.g., intravascular canulas, vascular accessshunts in hemodialysis patients, hemodialysis machines, andcardiopulmonary bypass machines).

In certain embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention are administeredin combination with antiretroviral agents, nucleoside/nucleotide reversetranscriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptaseinhibitors (NNRTIs), and/or protease inhibitors (PIs). NRTIs that may beadministered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention,include, but are not limited to, RETROVIR™ (zidovudine/AZT), VIDEX™(didanosine/ddI), HIVID™ (zalcitabine/ddC), ZERIT™ (stavudine/d4T),EPIVIR™ (lamivudine/3TC), and COMBIVIR™ (zidovudine/amivudine). NNRTIsthat may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, VIRAMUNE™ (nevirapine),RESCRIPTOR™ (delavirdine), and SUSTIVA™ (efavirenz). Protease inhibitorsthat may be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, CRIXIVAN™ (indinavir),NORVIR™(ritonavir), INVIRASE™ (saquinavir), and VERACEPT ™ (nelfinavir).In a specific embodiment, antiretroviral agents, nucleoside reversetranscriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptaseinhibitors, and/or protease inhibitors may be used in any combinationwith Therapeutics of the invention to treat AIDS and/or to prevent ortreat HIV infection.

Additional NRTIs include LODENOSINE™ (F-ddA; an acid-stable adenosineNRTI; Triangle/Abbott; COVIRACIL™ (emtricitabine/FTC; structurallyrelated to larivudine (3TC) but with 3- to 10-fold greater activity invitro; Triangle/Abbott); dOTC (BCH-10652, also structurally related tolamivudine but retains activity against a substantial proportion oflarivudine-resistant isolates; Biochem Pharma); Adefovir (refusedapproval for anti-HIV therapy by FDA; Gilead Sciences); PREVEON®(Adefovir Dipivoxil, the active prodrug of adefovir; its active form isPMEA-pp); TENOFOVIR™ (bis-POC PMPA, a PMPA prodrug; Gilead); DAPD/DXG(active metabolite of DAPD; Triangle/Abbott); D-D4FC (related to 3TC,with activity against AZT/3TC-resistant virus); GW420867X (GlaxoWellcome); ZIAGEN™ (abacavir/159U89; Glaxo Wellcome Inc.); CS-87(3′azido-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine; WO 99/66936); and S-acyl-2-thioethyl(SATE)-bearing prodrug forms of β-L-FD4C and β-L-FddC (WO 98/17281).

Additional NNRTIs include COACTINON™ (Emivirine/MKC-442, potent NNRTI ofthe HEPT class; Triangle/Abbott); CAPRAVIRINE™ (AG-1549/S-1153, a nextgeneration NNRTI with activity against viruses containing the K103Nmutation; Agouron); PNU-142721 (has 20- to 50-fold greater activity thanits predecessor delavirdine and is active against K103N mutants;Pharmacia & Upjohn); DPC-961 and DPC-963 (second-generation derivativesof efavirenz, designed to be active against viruses with the K103Nmutation; DuPont); GW-420867X (has 25-fold greater activity than HBY097and is active against K103N mutants; Glaxo Wellcome); CALANOLIDE A(naturally occurring agent from the latex tree; active against virusescontaining either or both the Y181C and K103N mutations); and Propolis(WO 99/49830).

Additional protease inhibitors include LOPINAVIR™ (ABT378/r; AbbottLaboratories); BMS-232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myres Squibb);TIPRANAVIR™ (PNU-140690, a non-peptic dihydropyrone; Pharmacia &Upjohn); PD-178390 (a nonpeptidic dihydropyrone; Parke-Davis); BMS232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myers Squibb); L-756,423 (an indinaviranalog; Merck); DMP-450 (a cyclic urea compound; Avid & DuPont); AG-1776(a peptidomimetic with in vitro activity against proteaseinhibitor-resistant viruses; Agouron); VX-175/GW433908 (phosphateprodrug of amprenavir; Vertex & Glaxo Welcome); CGP61755 (Ciba); andAGENERASE™ (amprenavir, Glaxo Wellcome Inc.).

Additional antiretroviral agents include fusion inhibitors/gp41 binders.Fusion inhibitors/gp41 binders include T-20 (a peptide from residues643-678 of the HIV gp41 transmembrane protein ectodomain which binds togp41in its resting state and prevents transformation to the fusogenicstate; Trimeris) and T-1249 (a second-generation fusion inhibitor;Trimeris).

Additional antiretroviral agents include fusion inhibitors/chemokinereceptor antagonists. Fusion inhibitors/chemokine receptor antagonistsinclude CXCR4 antagonists such as AMD 3100 (a bicyclam), SDF-1 and itsanalogs, and ALXC40-4C (a cationic peptide), T22 (an 18 amino acidpeptide; Trimeris) and the T22 analogs T134 and T140; CCR5 antagonistssuch as RANTES (9-68), AOP-RANTES, NNY-RANTES, and TAK-779; andCCR5/CXCR4 antagonists such as NSC 651016 (a distarnycin analog). Alsoincluded are CCR2B, CCR3, and CCR6 antagonists. Chemokine recpetoragonists such as RANTES, SDF-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, etc., may also inhibitfusion.

Additional antiretroviral agents include integrase inhibitors. Integraseinhibitors include dicaffeoylquinic (DFQA) acids; L-chicoric acid (adicaffeoyltartaric (DCTA) acid); quinalizarin (QLC) and relatedanthraquinones; ZINTEVIR™ (AR 177, an oligonucleotide that probably actsat cell surface rather than being a true integrase inhibitor, Arondex);and naphthols such as those disclosed in WO 98/50347.

Additional antiretroviral agents include hydroxyurea-like compunds suchas BCX-34 (a purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor; Biocryst);ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as DIDOX™ (Molecules forHealth); inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitors sucha asVX-497 (Vertex); and mycopholic acids such as CellCept (mycophenolatemofetil; Roche).

Additional antiretroviral agents include inhibitors of viral integrase,inhibitors of viral genome nuclear translocation such as arylenebis(methylketone) compounds; inhibitors of HIV entry such as AOP-RANTES,NNY-RANTES, RANTES-IgG fusion protein, soluble complexes of RANTES andglycosarninoglycans (GAG), and AMD-3100; nucleocapsid zinc fingerinhibitors such as dithiane compounds; targets of HIV Tat and Rev; andpharnacoenhancers such as ABT-378.

Other antiretroviral therapies and adjunct therapies include cytokinesand lymphokines such as MIP-1α, MIP-1β, SDF-1α, IL-2, PROLEUKIN™(aldesleukin/L2-7001; Chiron), IL-4, IL-10, IL12, and IL-13; interferonssuch as IFN-α2a; antagonists of TNFs, NFκB, GM-CSF, M-CSF, and IL-10;agents that modulate immune activation such as cyclosporin andprednisone; vaccines such as Remune™ (HIV Immunogen), APL400-003(Apollon), recombinant gp120 and fragments, bivalent (B/E) recombinantenvelope glycoprotein, rgp120CM235, MN rgp120, SF-2 rgp120,gp120/soluble CD4 complex, Delta JR-FL protein, branched syntheticpeptide derived from discontinuous gp120 C3/C4 domain, fusion-competentimmunogens, and Gag, Pol, Nef, and Tat vaccines; gene-based therapiessuch as genetic suppressor elements (GSEs; WO 98/54366), and intakines(genetically modified CC chemokines targetted to the ER to block surfaceexpression of newly synthesized CCR5 (Yang et al., PNAS 94:11567-72(1997); Chen et al., Nat. Med. 3:1110-16 (1997)); antibodies such as theanti-CXCR4 antibody 12G5, the anti-CCR5 antibodies 2D7, 5C7, PA8, PA9,PA10, PA11, PA12, and PA14, the anti-CD4 antibodies Q4120 and RPA-T4,the anti-CCR3 antibody 7B11, the anti-gp120 antibodies 17b, 48d,447-52D, 257-D, 268-D and 50.1, anti-Tat antibodies, anti-TNF-αantibodies, and monoclonal antibody 33A; aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptoragonists and antagonists such as TCDD, 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl,3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, and α-naphthoflavone (WO 98/30213); andantioxidants such as γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine ethyl ester (γ-GCE; WO99/56764).

In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antiviral agent. Antiviral agentsthat may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include,but are not limited to, acyclovir, ribavirin, amantadine, andremantidine.

In other embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention may be administeredin combination with anti-opportunistic infection agents.Anti-opportunistic agents that may be administered in combination withthe Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to,TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, ATOVAQUONE™,ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, ETHAMBUTOL™, RIPABUTIN™,CLARITHROMYCIN™, AZITHROMYCIN™, GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, CIDOFOVIR™,FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, KETOCONAZOLE™, ACYCLOVIR™, FAMCICOLVIR™,PYRIMETHAMINE™, LEUCOVORIN™, NEUPOGEN™ (filgrastim/G-CSF), and LEUKINE™(sargramostim/GM-CSF). In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination withTRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, and/orATOVAQUONE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunisticPneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combinationwith ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, and/or ETHAMBUTOL™ toprophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium aviumcomplex infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination with RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™,and/or AZITHROMYCIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent anopportunistic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combinationwith GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, and/or CIDOFOVIR™ to prophylacticallytreat or prevent an opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection. In anotherspecific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in anycombination with FLUCONAZOLEU™, ITRACONAZOLE™, and/or KETOCONAZOLE™ toprophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic fungal infection. Inanother specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used inany combination with ACYCLOVIR™ and/or FAMCICOLVIR™ to prophylacticallytreat or prevent an opportunistic herpes simplex virus type I and/ortype II infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination with PYRIMETHAMINE™ and/orLEUCOVORIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunisticToxoplasma gondii infection. In another specific embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination withLEUCOVORIN™ and/or NEUPOGEN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent anopportunistic bacterial infection.

In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antibiotic agent. Antibiotic agentsthat may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include,but are not limited to, amoxicillin, beta-lactamases, amninoglycosides,beta-lactam (glycopeptide), beta-lactamases, Clindamycin,chloramphenicol, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin,fluoroquinolones, macrolides, metronidazole, penicillins, quinolones,rapamycin, rifampin, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracyclines,trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin.

In other embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention are administeredin combination with immunestimulants. Immunostimulants that may beadministered in combination with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, levamisole (e.g., ERGAMISOL™),isoprinosine (e.g. INOSIPLEX™), interferons (e.g. interferon alpha), andinterleukins (e.g., IL-2).

In other embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention arm administered incombination with immunosuppressive agents. Immunosuppressive agents thatmay be administered in combination with the Therapeutics of theinvention include, but are; not limited to, steroids, cyclosporine,cyclosporine analogs, cyclophosphamide methylprednisone, prednisone,azathioprine, FK-506, 15-deoxyspergualin, and other immunosuppressiveagents that act by suppressing the function of responding T cells. Otherimmunosuppressive agents that may be administered in combination, withthe Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,prednisolone, methotrexate, thalidomide, methoxsalen, rapamycin,leflunomide, mizoribine (BREDININ™), brequinar, deoxyspergualin, andazaspirane (SKF 105685), ORTHOCLONE OKT® 3 (muromonab-CD3), SANDIMMUNE™,NEORAL™, SANGDYA™ (cyclosporine), PROGRAP® (FK506, tacrolimus),CELLCEPT® (mycophenolate motefil, of which the active metabolite ismycophenolic acid), IMURAN™ (azathioprine), glucocorticosteroids,adrenocortical steroids such as DELTASONE™ (prednisone) and HYDELTRASOL™(prednisolone), FOLEX™ and MEXATE™ (methotrxate), OXSORALEN-ULTRA™(methoxsalen) and RAPAMUNE™ (sirolimus). In a specific embodiment,immunosuppressants may be used to prevent rejection of organ or bonemarrow transplantation.

In an additional embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention areadministered alone or in combination with one or more intravenous immuneglobulin preparations. Intravenous immune globulin preparations that maybe administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but notlimited to, GAMMAR™, IVEEGAM™, SANDOGLOBULIN™, GAMMAGARD S/D™, ATGAM™(antithymocyte glubulin), and GAMIMUNE™. In a specific embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination withintravenous immune globulin preparations in transplantation therapy(e.g., bone marrow transplant).

In certain embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered alone or in combination with an anti-inflammatory agent.Anti-inflammatory agents that may be administered with the Therapeuticsof the invention include, but are not limited to, corticosteroids (e.g.betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone,methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone),nonsteroidal anti-inflammnatory drugs (e.g., diclofenac, diflunisal,etodolac, fenoprofen, floctafenine, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen,indomethacin, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meloxicam,nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac,tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid, and tolmetin.), as well as antihistamines,aminoarylcarboxylic acid derivatives, arylacetic acid derivatives,arylbutyric acid derivatives, arylcarboxylic acids, arylpropionic acidderivatives, pyrazoles, pyrazolones, salicylic acid derivatives,thiazinecarboxamides, e-acetamidocaproic acid, S-adenosylmethionine,3-amino-4-hydroxybutyric acid, amixetrine, bendazac, benzydamine,bucolome, difenpiramide, ditazol, emorfazone, guaiazulene, nabumetone,nimesulide, orgotein, oxaceprol, paranyline, perisoxal, pifoxime,proquazone, proxazole, and tenidap.

In an additional embodiment, the compositions of the invention areadministered alone or in combination with an anti-angiogenic agent.Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administered with the compositions ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, Angiostatin (Entremed,Rockville, Md.), Troponin-1 (Boston Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.),anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid and derivatives thereof, paclitaxel(Taxol), Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, TissueInhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2, VEGI, Plasminogen ActivatorInhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator-Inhibitor-2, and various forms of thelighter “d group” transition metals.

Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example, vanadium,molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species. Suchtransition metal species may form transition metal complexes. Suitablecomplexes of the above-mentioned transition metal species include oxotransition metal complexes.

Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxo vanadiumcomplexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitable vanadatecomplexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes such as, forexample, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodiumorthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadylacetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydratessuch as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes alsoinclude oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstateand tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes includeammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, andtungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide andtungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes includemolybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitablemolybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodiummolybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates.Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum(VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include,for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten andmolybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, forexample, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also be utilizedwithin the context of the present invention. Representative examplesinclude, but are not limited to, platelet factor 4; protamine sulphate;sulphated chitin derivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murataet al., Cancer Res. 51:22-26, (1991)); Sulphated PolysaccharidePeptidoglycan Complex (SP-PG) (the function of this compound may beenhanced by the presence of steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifencitrate); Staurosporine; modulators of matrix metabolism, including forexample, proline analogs, cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4-dehydroproline,Thiaproline, alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate;4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone;Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J.Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, (1992)); Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al.,Biochem J. 286:475-480, (1992)); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate;Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557,(1990)); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin.Invest. 79:1440-1446, (1987)); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin(Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664, (1987)); Bisantrene(National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium(N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”;(Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, (1992)); andmetalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

Additional anti-angiogenic factors that may also be utilized within thecontext of the present invention include Thalidomide, (Celgene, Warren,N.J.); Angiostatic steroid; AGM-1470 (H. Brem and J. Folkman J Pediatr.Surg. 28:445-51 (1993)); an integrin alpha v beta 3 antagonist (C.Storgard et al., J Clin. Invest. 103:47-54 (1999));carboxynaminolmidazole; Carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) (National CancerInstitute, Bethesda, Md.); Conbretastatin A-4 (CA4P) (OXiGENE, Boston,Mass.); Squalamine (Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.);TNP-470, (Tap Phartnaceuticals, Deerfield, Ill.); ZD-0101 AstraZeneca(London, UK); APRA (CT2584); Benefin, Byrostatin-1 (SC339555); CGP-41251(PKC 412); CM101; Dexrazoxane (ICRF187); DMXAA; Endostatin;Flavopridiol; Genestein; GTE; ImmTher; Iressa (ZD1839); Octreotide(Somatostatin); Panretin; Penacillamine; Photopoint; PI-88; Prinomastat(AG-3340) Purlytin; Suradista (FCE26644); Tamoxifen (Nolvadex);Tazarotene; Tetrathiomolybdate; Xeloda (Capecitabine); and5-Fluorouracil.

Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administed in combination with thecompounds of the invention may work through a variety of mechanismsincluding, but not limited to, inhibiting proteolysis of theextracellular matrix, blocking the function of endothelialcell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules, by antagonizing thefunction of angiogenesis inducers such as growth factors, and inhibitingintegrin receptors expressed on proliferating endothelial cells.Examples of anti-angiogenic inhibitors that interfere with extracellularmatrix proteolysis and which may be administered in combination with thecompositons of the invention include, but are not lmited to, AG-3340(Agouron, La Jolla, Calif.), BAY-12-9566(Bayer, West Haven Conn.),BMS-275291 (Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J.), CGS-27032A(Novartis, East Hanover, N.J.), Marimastat (British Biotech, Oxford,UK), and Metastat (Aeterna, St-Foy, Quebec). Examples of anti-angiogenicinhibitors that act by blocking the function of endothelialcell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules and which may beadministered in combination with the compositons of the inventioninclude, but are not lmited to, EMD-121974 (Merck KcgaA Darmstadt,Germany) and Vitaxin (Ixsys, La Jolla, Calif./Medimmune, Gaithersburg,Md.). Examples of anti-angiogenic agents that act by directlyantagonizing or inhibiting angiogenesis inducers and which may beadministered in combination with the compositons of the inventioninclude, but are not lmited to, Angiozyme (Ribozyme, Boulder, Colo.),Anti-VEGF antibody (Genentech, S. San Francisco, Calif.),PTK-787/ZK-225846 (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), SU-101 (Sugen, S. SanFrancisco, Calif.), SU-5416 (Sugen/Pharrnacia Upjohn, Bridgewater,N.J.), and SU-6668 (Sugen). Other anti-angiogenic agents act toindirectly inhibit angiogenesis. Examples of indirect inhibitors ofangiogenesis which may be administered in combination with thecompositons of the invention include, but are not limited to, IM-862(Cytran, Kirkland, Wash.), Interferon-alpha, IL-12 (Roche, Nutley,N.J.), and Pentosan polysulfate (Georgetown University, Washington,D.C.).

In particular embodiments, the use of compositions of the invention incombination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for thetreatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of an autoimmune disease,such as for example, an autoimmune disease described herein.

In a particular embodiment, the use of compositions of the invention incombination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for thetreatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of arthritis. In a moreparticular embodiment, the use of compositions of the invention incombination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for thetreatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis.

In another embodiment, the polynucleotides encoding. a polypeptide ofthe present invention are administered in combination with an angiogenicprotein, or polynucleotides encoding an angiogenic protein. Examples ofangiogenic proteins that may be administered with the compositions ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, acidic and basicfibroblast growth factors, VEGF-1, VEGF-2, VEGF-3, epidermal growthfactor alpha and beta, platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor,platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, hepatocytegrowth factor, insulin like growth factor, colony stimulating factor,macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage colonystimulating factor, and nitric oxide synthase.

In additional embodiments, compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent.Chemotherapeutic agents that may be administered with the Therapeuticsof the invention include, but are not limited to alkylating agents suchas nitrogen mustards (for example, Mechlorethamine, cyclophospharnide,Cyclophosphamide Ifosfamide, Melphalan (L-sarcolysin), andChlorambucil), ethylenimines and methylmelamines (for example,Hexamethylmelamine; and Thiotepa), alkyl sulfonates (for example,Busulfan), nitrosoureas (for example, Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine(CCNU), Semustine (methyl-CCNU), and Streptozocin (streptozotocin)),triazenes (for example, Dacarbazine (DTIC;dimethyltriazenoimidazolecarboxamide)), folic acid analogs (for example,Methotrexate (amethopterin)), pyrimidine analogs (for example,Fluorouacil (5-fluorouracil; 5-FU), Floxuridine (fluorodeoxyuridine;FudR), and Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside)), purine analogs andrelated inhibitors (for example, Mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine;6-MP), Thioguanine (6-thioguanine; TG), and Pentostatin(2′-deoxycoformycin)), vinca alkaloids (for example, Vinblastine (VLB,vinblastine sulfate)) and Vincristine (vincristine sulfate)),epipodophyllotoxins (for example, Etoposide and Teniposide), antibiotics(for example,. Dactinomycin (actinomycin D), Daunorubicin (daunomycin;rubidomycin), Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Plicamycin (mithramycin), andMitomycin (mitomycin C), enzymes (for example, L-Asparaginase),biological response modifiers (for example, Interferon-alpha andinterferon-alpha-2b), platinum coordination compounds (for example,Cisplatin (cis-DDP) and Carboplatin), anthracenedione (Mitoxantrone),substituted ureas (for example, Hydroxyurea), methylhydrazinederivatives (for example, Procarbazine (N-methylhydrazine; MIH),adrenocorticosteroids (for example, Prednisone), progestins (forexample, Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Medroxyprogesterone,Medroxyprogesterone acetate, and Megestrol acetate), estrogens (forexample, Diethylstilbestrol (DES), Diethylstilbestrol diphosphate,Estradiol, and Ethinyl estradiol), antiestrogens (for example,Tamoxifen), androgens (Testosterone proprionate, and Fluoxymesterone),antiandrogens (for example, Flutamide), gonadotropin-releasing horomoneanalogs (for example, Leuprolide), other hormones and hormone analogs(for example, methyltestosterone, estramustine, estramustine phosphatesodium, chlorotrianisene, and testolactone), and others (for example,dicarbazine, glutamic acid, and mitotane).

In one embodiment, the compositions of the invention are administered incombination with one or more of the following drugs: infliximab (alsoknown as Remicade™ Centocor, Inc.), Trocade (Roche, RO-32-3555),Leflunomide (also known as Arava™ from Hoechst Marion Roussel), Kineret™(an IL-1 Receptor antagonist also known as Anakinra from Amgen, Inc.)

In a specific embodiment, compositions of the invention are administeredin combination with CHOP (cyclophospharnide, doxorubicin, vincristine,and prednisone) or combination of one or more of the components of CHOP.In one embodiment, the compositions of the invention are administered incombination with anti-CD20 antibodies, human monoclonal anti-CD20antibodies. In another embodiment, the compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies and CHOP, oranti-CD20 antibodies and any combination of one or more of thecomponents of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. Ina specific embodiment, compositions of the invention are administered incombination with Rituximab. In a further embodiment, compositions of theinvention are administered with Rituximab and CHOP, or Rituximab and anycombination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularlycyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. In a specific embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered in combination withtositumomab. In a further embodiment, compositions of the invention areadministered with tositumomab and CHOP, or tositumomab and anycombination of one or more of the components of CHOP, particularlycyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. The anti-CD20 antibodies mayoptionally be associated with radioisotopes, toxins or cytotoxicprodrugs.

In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the invention areadministered in combination Zevalin™. In a further embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered with Zevalin™ and CHOP,or Zevalin™ and any combination of one or more of the components ofCHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. Zevalin™ may beassociated with one or more radisotopes. Particularly preferred isotopesare ⁹⁰Y and ¹¹¹In.

In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with cytokines. Cytokines that may beadministered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are notlimited to, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL12, IL13, IL15,anti-CD40, CD40L, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In another embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention may be administered with any interleukin,including, but not limited to, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4,IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15,IL16, IL-17, IL-18, IL-19, ILM20, and IL-21.

In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with members of the TNF family. TNF, TNF-related or TNF-likemolecules that may be administered with the Therapeutics of theinvention include, but are not limited to, soluble forms of TNF-alpha,lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha, also known as TNF-beta), LT-beta (found incomplex heterotrimer LT-alpha2-beta), OPGL, FasL, CD27L, CD30L, CD40L,4-1BBL, DcR3, OX40L, TNF-gamma (International Publication No. WO96/14328), AIM-I (International Publication No. WO 97/33899),endokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/07880), OPG, andneutrokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/18921, OX40, andnerve growth factor (NGF), and soluble forms of Fas, CD30, CD27,CD40 and4-IBB, TR2 (International Publication No. WO 96/34095), DR3(International Publication No. WO 97/33904), DR4 (InternationalPublication No. WO 98/32856), TR5 (International Publication No. WO98/30693), TRANK, TR9 (International Publication No. WO 98/56892),TR10(International Publication No. WO 98/54202), 312C2 (InternationalPublication No. WO 98/06842), and TR12, and soluble forms CD154, CD70,and CD153.

In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with angiogenic proteins. Angiogenicproteins that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, Glioma Derived Growth Factor (GDGF), asdisclosed in European Patent Number EP-399816; Platelet Derived GrowthFactor-A (PDGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-682110;Platelet Derived Growth Factor-B (PDGF-B), as disclosed in EuropeanPatent Number EP-282317; Placental Growth Factor (PIGF), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 92/06194; Placental Growth Factor-2(PIGF-2), as disclosed in Hauser et al., Growth Factors, 4:259-268(1993); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 90/13649; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor-A (VEGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent NumberEP-506477;Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 (VEGF-2), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 96/39515; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor B (VEGF-3); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B-186(VEGF-B186), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO96/26736; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 98/02543; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International PublicationNumber WO 98/07832; and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-E (VEGF-E),as disclosed in German Patent Number DE19639601. The above mentionedreferences are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with Fibroblast Growth Factors. FibroblastGrowth Factors that may be administered with the Therapeutics of theinvention include, but are not limited to, FGF-1, FGF-2, FGF-3, FGF-4,FGF-5, FGF-6, FGF-7, FGF-8, FGF-9, FGF-10, FGF-11, FGF-12, FGF-13,FGF-14, and FGF-15.

In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with hematopoietic growth factors.Hematopoietic growth factors that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (sargramostim,LEUKINE™, PROKINE™), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)(filgrastim, NEUPOGEN™), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF,CSF-1) erythropoietin (epoetin alfa, EPOGEN™, PROCRIT™), stem cellfactor (SCF, c-kit ligand, steel factor), megakaryocyte colonystimulating factor, PIXY321 (a GMCSF/IL-3 fusion protein), interleukins,especially any one or more of IL-1 through IL-12, interferon-gamma, orthrombopoietin.

In certain embodiments, Therapeutics of the present invention areadministered in combination with adrenergic blockers, such as, forexample, acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol,labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol,propranolol, sotalol, and timolol.

In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antiarrhythmic drug (e.g.,adenosine, amidoarone, bretylium, digitalis, digoxin, digitoxin,diliazem, disopyramide, esmolol, flecainide, lidocaine, mexiletine,moricizine, phenytoin, procainamide, N-acetyl procainamide, propafenone,propranolol, quinidine, sotalol, tocainide, and verapamil).

In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with diuretic agents, such as carbonicanhydrase-inhibiting agents (e.g., acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, andmethazolamide), osmotic diuretics (e.g., glycerin, isosorbide, mannitol,and urea), diuretics that inhibit Na⁺−K⁺−2Cl⁻ symport (e.g., furosemide,bumetanide, azosemide, piretanide, tripamide, ethacrynic acid,muzolimine, and torsemide), thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics (e.g.,bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide,hydroflumethiazide, methyclothiazide, polythiazide, trichormethiazide,chlorthalidone, indapamide, metolazone, and quinethazone), potassiumsparing diuretics (e.g., amiloride and triamterene), andmineralcorticoid receptor antagonists (e.g., spironolactone, canrenone,and potassium canrenoate).

In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalancedisorders. Treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disordersinclude, but are not limited to, ¹²⁷I, radioactive isotopes of iodinesuch as ¹³¹I and ¹²³I; recombinant growth hormone, such as HUMATROPE™(recombinant somatropin); growth hormone analogs such as PROTROPIN™(somatrem); dopamine agonists such as PARLODEL™ (bromocriptine);somatostatin analogs such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide); gonadotropinpreparations such as PREGNYL™, A.P.L™ and PROFAST™ (chorionicgonadotropin (CG)), PERGONAL™ (menotropins), and METRODIN™(urofollitropin (uFSH)); synthetic human gonadotropin releasing hormonepreparations such as FACTREL™ and LUTREPULSE™ (gonadorelinhydrochloride); synthetic gonadotropin agonists such as LUPRON™(leuprolide acetate), SUPPRELIN™ (histrelin acetate), SYNAREL™(nafarelin acetate), and ZOLADEX™ (goserelin acetate); syntheticpreparations of thyrotropin-releasing hormone such as RELEFACT TRH™ andTHYPINONE™ (protirelin); recombinant human TSH such as THYROGEN™;synthetic preparations of the sodium salts of the natural isomers ofthyroid hormones such as L-T₄™, SYNTHROID™ and LEVOTHROID™(levothyroxine sodium), L-T₃™, CYTOMEL™ and TRIOSTAT™ (liothyroinesodium), and THYROLAR™ (liotrix); antithyroid compounds such as6-n-propylthiouracil (propylthiouracil), 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazoleand TAPAZOLE™ (methimazole), NEO-MERCAZOLE™ (carbimazole);beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists such as propranolol and esmolol;Ca²⁺ channel blockers; dexamethasone and iodinated radiological contrastagents such as TELEPAQUET™ (iopanoic acid) and ORAGRAFIN™ (sodiumipodate).

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disordersinclude, but are not limited to, estrogens or congugated estrogens suchas ESTRACE™ (estradiol), ESTINYL™ (ethinyl estradiol), PREMARIN™,ESTRATAB™, ORTHO-EST™, OGEN™ and estropipate (estrone), ESTROVIS™(quinestrol), ESTRADERM™ (estradiol), DELESTROGEN™ and VALERGEN™(estradiol valerate), DEPO-ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE™ and ESTROJECT LA™(estradiol cypionate); antiestrogens such as NOLVADEX™ (tamoxifen),SEROPHENE™ and CLOMID™ (clomiphene); progestins such as DURALUTIN™(hydroxyprogesterone caproate), MPA™ and DEPO-PROVERA™(medroxyprogesterone acetate), PROVERA™ and CYCRIN™ (MPA), MEGACE™(megestrol acetate), NORLUTIN™ (norethindrone), and NORLUTATE™ andAYGESTIN™ (norethindrone acetate); progesterone implants such asNORPLANT SYSTEM™ (subdermal implants of norgestrel); antiprogestins suchas RU 486™ (mifepristone); hormonal contraceptives such as ENOVID™(norethynodrel plus mestranol), PROGESTASERT™ (intrauterine device thatreleases progesterone), LOESTRIN™, BREVICON™, MODICON™, GENORA™,NELONA™, NORINYL™, OVACON-35™ and OVACON-50™ (ethinylestradio/norethindrone), LEVLEN™ , NORDETTE™, TRI-LEVLEN™ andTRIPHASIL-21™ (ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel) LO/OVRAL™ and OVRAL™(ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel), DEMULEN™ (ethinyl estradiol/ethynodioldiacetate), NORINYL™, ORTHO-NOVUM™, NORETHIN™, GENORA™, and NELOVA™(norethindrone/mestranol), DESOGEN™ and ORTHO-CEPT™ (ethinylestradiol/desogestrel), ORTHO-CYCLEN™ and ORTHO-TRICYCLEN™ (ethinylestradiol/norgestimate), MICRONOR™ and NOR-QD™ (norethindrone), andOVRETTE™ (norgestrel).

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disordersinclude, but are not limited to, testosterone esters such as methenoloneacetate and testosterone undecanoate; parenteral and oral androgens suchas TESTOJECT-50™ (testosterone), TESTEX™ (testosterone propionate),DELATESTRYL™ (testosterone enanthate), DEPO-TESTOSTERONE™ (testosteronecypionate), DANOCRINE™ (danazol), HALOTESTIN™ (fluoxymesterone), ORETONMETHYL™, TESTRED™ and VIRILON™ (methyltestosterone), and OXANDRIN™(oxandrolone); testosterone transdermnal systems such as TESTODERM™;androgen receptor antagonist and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such asANDROCUR™ (cyproterone acetate), EULEXIN™ (flutamide), and PROSCAR™(finasteride); adrenocorticotropic hormone preparations such asCORTROSYN™ (cosyntropin); adrenocortical steroids and their syntheticanalogs such as ACLOVATE™ (alclometasone dipropionate), CYCLOCORT™(amcinonide), BECLOVENT™ and VANCERIL™ (beclomethasone dipropionate),CELESTONE™ (betamethasone), BENISONE™ and UTICORT™ (betamethasonebenzoate), DIPROSONE™ (betamethasone dipropionate), CELESTONE PHOSPHATE™(betamethasone sodium phosphate), CELESTONE SOLUSPAN™ (betamethasonesodium phosphate and acetate), BETA-VAL™ and VALISONE™ (betamethasonevalerate), TEMOVATE™ (clobetasol propionate), CLODERM™ (clocortolonepivalate), CORTEF™ and HYDROCORTONE™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone)),HYDROCORTONE ACETATE™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) acetate), LOCOID™(cortisol (hydrocortisone) butyrate), HYDROCORTONE PHOSPHATE™ (cortisol(hydrocortisone) sodium phosphate), A-HYDROCORT™ and SOLU CORTEF™(cortisol (hydrocortisone) sodium succinate), WESTCORT™ (cortisol(hydrocortisone) valerate), CORTISONE ACETATE™ (cortisone acetate),DESOWEN™ and TRIDESILON™ (desonide), TOPICORT™ (desoximetasone),DECADRON™ (dexamethasone), DECADRON LA™ (dexamethasone acetate),DECADRON PHOSPHATE™ and HEXADROL PHOSPHATE™ (dexamethasone sodiumphosphate), FLORONE™ and MAXIFOR™ (diflorasone diacetate), FLORINEFACETATE™ (fludrocortisone acetate), AEROBID™ and NASALIDE™(flunisolide), FLUONID™ and SYNALAR™ (fluocinolone acetonide), LIDEX™(fluocinonide), FLUOR-OP™ and FML™ (fluorometholone), CORDRAN™(flurandrenolide), HALOG™ (halcinonide), HMS LIZUIFILM™ (medrysone),MEDROL™ (methylprednisolone), DEPO-MEDROL™ and MEDROL ACETATE™(methylprednisone acetate), A-METHAPRED™ and SOLUMEDROL™(methylprednisolone sodium succinate), ELOCON™ (mometasone furoate),HALDRONE™ (paramethasone acetate), DELTA-CORTEF™ (prednisolone),ECONOPRED™ (prednisolone acetate), HYDELTRASOL™ (prednisolone sodiumphosphate), HYDELTRA-T.B.A™ (prednisolone tebutate), DELTASONE™(prednisone), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT™ (triamcinolone), KENALOG™(triamcinolone acetonide), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT DIACETATE™(triarncinolone diacetate), and ARISTOSPAN™ (triamcinolonehexacetonide); inhibitors of biosynthesis and action of adrenocorticalsteroids such as CYTADREN™ (aminoglutethimide), NIZORAL™ (ketoconazole),MODRASTANE™ (trilostane), and METOPIRONE™ (metyrapone);

Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalance disordersinclude, but are not limited to bovine, porcine or human insulin ormixtures thereof; insulin analogs; recombinant human insulin such asHUMULIN™ and NOVOLIN™; oral hypoglycemic agents such as ORAMIDE™ andORINASE™ (tolbutamide), DIABINESE™ (chlorpropamide), TOLANMIDE™ andTOLINASE™ (tolazamide), DYMELOR™ (acetohexamide), glibenclamide,MICRONASE™, DIBETA™ and GLYNASE™ (glyburide), GLUCOTROL™ (glipizide),and DIAMICRON™ (gliclazide), GLUCOPHAGE™ (metformin), PRECOSE™(acarbose), AMARYL™ (glimepiride), and ciglitazone; thiazolidinediones(TZDs) such as rosiglitazone, AVANDIA™ (rosiglitazone maleate) ACTOS™(piogliatazone), and troglitazone; alpha-glucosidase inhibitors; bovineor porcine glucagon; somatostatins such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide);and diazoxides such as PROGLYCEM™ (diazoxide). In still otherembodiments, Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with one or more of the following: a biguanide antidiabeticagent, a glitazone antidiabetic agent, and a sulfonylurea antidiabeticagent.

In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with treatments for uterine motility disorders. Treatmentsfor uterine motility disorders include, but are not limited to, estrogendrugs such as conjugated estrogens (e.g., PREMARIN™ and ESTRATAB™),estradiols (e.g., CLIMARA™ and ALORA™), estropipate, andchlorotrianisene; progestin drugs (e.g., AMEN™ (medroxyprogesterone),MICRONOR™ (norethidrone acetate), PROMETRIUM™ progesterone, andmegestrol acetate); and estrogen/progesterone combination therapies suchas, for example, conjugated estrogens/medroxyprogesterone (e.g.,PREMPRO™ and PREMPHASE™) and norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estsradiol(e.g., FEMHRT™).

In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with drugs effective in treating irondeficiency and hypochromic anemias, including but not limited to,ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate, FEOSOL™), ferrous fumarate (e.g.,FEOSTAT™), ferrous gluconate (e.g., FERGON™), polysaccharide-ironcomplex (e.g., NIFEREX™), iron dextran injection (e.g., INFED™), cupricsulfate, pyroxidine, riboflavin, Vitamin B₁₂, cyancobalamin injection(e.g., REDISOL™, RUBRAMIN PC™), hydroxocobalamin, folic acid (e.g.,FOLVITE™), leucovorin (folinic acid, 5-CHOH4PteGlu, citrovorum factor)or WELLCOVORIN (Calcium salt of leucovorin), transferrin or ferritin.

In certain embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with agents used to treat psychiatricdisorders. Psychiatric drugs that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,antipsychotic agents (e.g., chlorpromazine, chlorprothixene, clozapine,fluphenazine, haloperidol, loxapine, mesoridazine, molindone,olanzapine, perphenazine, pimozide, quetiapine, risperidone,thioridazine, thiothixene, trifluoperazine, and triflupromazine),antimanic agents (e.g., carbamazepine, divalproex sodium, lithiumcarbonate, and lithium citrate), antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline,amoxapine, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin,fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, imipramine, isocarboxazid, maprotiline,mirtazapine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, phenelzine,protriptyline, sertraline, tranylcypromine, trazodone, trimipramine andvenlafaxine), antianxiety agents (e.g., alprazolam, buspirone,chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, diazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam,and prazepam), and stimulants (e.g., d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, andpemoline).

In other embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention are administeredin combination with agents used to treat neurological disorders.Neurological agents that may be administered with the Therapeutics ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, antiepileptic agents(e.g., carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, phenobarbital,phenytoin, primidone, valproic acid, divalproex sodium, felbamate,gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, tiagabine,topiramate, zonisamide, diazepam, lorazepam, and clonazepam),antiparkinsonian agents (e.g., levodopa/carbidopa, selegiline,amantidine, bromocriptine, pergolide, ropinirole, pramipexole,benztropine; biperiden; ethopropazine; procyclidine; trihexyphenidyl,tolcapone), and ALS therapeutics (e.g. riluzole).

In another embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with vasodilating agents and/or calcium channel blockingagents. Vasodilating agents that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., papaverine,isoxsuprine, benazepril, captopril, cilazapril, enalapril, enalaprilat,fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril,spirapril, trandolapril, and nylidrin), and nitrates (e.g., isosorbidedinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and nitroglycerin). Examples ofcalcium channel blocking agents that may be administered in combinationwith the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited toamlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, flunarizine, isradipine,nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, and verapamil.

In certain embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with treatments for gastrointestinaldisorders. Treatments for gastrointestinal disorders that may beadministered with the Therapeutic of the invention include, but are notlimited to, H₂ histamine receptor antagonists (e.g., TAGAME™(cimetidine), ZANTAC™ (ranitidine), PEPCID™ (famotidine), and AXID™(nizatidine)); inhibitors of H³⁰ , F³⁰ ATPase (e.g., PREVACID™(lansoprazole) and PRILOSEC™ (omeprazole)); Bismuth compounds (e.g.,PEPTO-BISMOL™ (bismuth subsalicylate) and DE-NOL™ (bismuth subcitrate));various antacids; sucralfate; prostaglandin analogs (e.g. CYTOTEC™(misoprostol)); muscarinic cholinergic antagonists; laxatives (e.g.,surfactant laxatives, stimulant laxatives, saline and osmoticlaxatives); antidiarrheal agents (e.g., LOMOTIL™ (diphenoxylate),MOTOFEN™ (diphenoxin), and IMODIUM™ (loperamide hydrochloride)),synthetic analogs of somatostatin such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide),antiemetic agents (e.g., ZOFRAN™ (ondansetron), KYRTRIL™ (granisetronhydrochloride), tropisetron, dolasetron, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine,perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine, thiethylperazine,triflupiromazine, domperidone, haloperidol, droperidol,trimethobenzamide, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, dronabinol, andnabilone); D2 antagonists (e.g., metoclopramide, trimethobenzamide andchlotpromazine); bile salts; chenodeoxycholic acid; ursodeoxycholicacid; and pancreatic enzyme preparations such as pancreatin andpancrelipase.

In additional embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with other therapeutic or prophylacticregimens, such as, for example, radiation therapy.

Example 11 Method of Treating Decreased Levels of the Polypeptide

It will be appreciated that conditions caused by a decrease in thestandard or normal expression level of a polypeptide in an individualcan be treated by administering the polypeptide of the presentinvention, preferably in the secreted and/or soluble form. Thus, theinvention also provides a method of treatment of an individual in needof an increased level of the polypeptide comprising administering tosuch an individual a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount ofthe polypeptide to increase the activity level of the polypeptide insuch an individual.

For example, a patient with decreased levels of a polypeptide receives adaily dose 0.1-100 ug/kg of the polypeptide for six consecutive days.Preferably, the: polypeptide is in the secreted form. The exact detailsof the dosing scheme, based on administration and formulation, areprovided in Example 10.

Example 12 Method of Treating Increased Levels of the Polypeptide

Antisense technology is used to inhibit production of a polypeptide ofthe present invention. This technology is one example of a method ofdecreasing levels of a polypeptide, preferably a secreted form, due to avariety of etiologies, such as cancer.

For example, a patient diagnosed with abnormally increased levels of apolypeptide is administered intravenously antisense polynucleotides at0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg day for 21 days. This treatment isrepeated after a 7-day rest period if the treatment was well tolerated.The antisense polynucleotides of the present invention can be formulatedusing techniques and formulations described herein (e.g., see Example10) or otherwise known in the art.

Example 13 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy—Ex Vivo

One method of gene therapy transplants fibroblasts, which are capable ofexpressing a polypeptide, onto a patient. Generally, fibroblasts areobtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resulting tissue is placedin tissue-culture medium and separated into small pieces. Small chunksof the tissue are placed on a wet surface of a tissue culture flask,approximately ten pieces are placed in each flask. The flask is turnedupside down, closed tight and left at room temperature over night. After24 hours at room temperature, the flask is inverted and the chunks oftissue remain fixed to the bottom of the flask and fresh media (e.g.,Ham's F12 media, with 10% FBS, penicillin and streptomycin) is added.The flasks are then incubated at 37° C. for approximately one week.

At this time, fresh media is added and subsequently changed everyseveral days. After an additional two weeks in culture, a monolayer offibroblasts emerge. The monolayer is trypsinized and scaled into largerflasks.

pMV-7 (Kirschmeier, P. T. et al., DNA, 7:219-25 (1988)), flanked by thelong. terminal repeats of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus, is digestedwith EcoRI and HindIII and subsequently treated with calf intestinalphosphatase. The linear vector is fractionated on agarose gel andpurified, using glass beads.

The cDNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention can beamplified using PCR primers which correspond to the 5′ and 3′ endsequences respectively as set forth in Example 1 using primers andhaving appropriate restriction sites and initiation/stop codons, ifnecessary. Preferably, the 5′ primer contains an EcoRI site and the 3′primer includes a HindIII site. Equal quantities of the Moloney murinesarcoma virus linear backbone and the amplified EcoRI and HindIIIfragment are added together, in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. Theresulting mixture is maintained under conditions appropriate forligation of the two fragments. The ligation mixture is then used totransform bacteria HB101, which are then plated onto agar containingkanamycin for the, purpose of confirming that the vector has the gene ofinterest properly inserted.

The amphotropic pA317 or GP+am12 packaging cells are grown in tissueculture to confluent density in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM)with 10% calf serum (CS), penicillin and streptomycin. The MSV vectorcontaining the gene is then added to the media and the packaging cellstransduced with the vector. The packaging cells now produce infectiousviral particles containing the gene (the packaging cells are nowreferred to as producer cells).

Fresh media is added to the transduced producer cells, and subsequently,the media is harvested from a 10 cm plate of confluent producer cells.The spent media, containing the infectious viral particles, is filteredthrough a millipore filter to remove detached producer cells and thismedia is then used to infect fibroblast cells. Media is removed from asub-confluent plate of fibroblasts and quickly replaced with the mediafrom the producer cells. This media is removed and replaced with freshmedia. If the titer of virus is high, then virtually all fibroblastswill be infected and no selection is required. If the titer is very low,then it is necessary to use a retroviral vector that has a selectablemarker, such as neo or his. Once the fibroblasts have been efficientlyinfected, the fibroblasts are analyzed to determine whether protein isproduced.

The engineered fibroblasts are then transplanted onto the host, eitheralone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3 microcarrierbeads.

Example 14 Gene Therapy Using Endogenous PTPase Genes

Another method of gene therapy according to the present inventioninvolves operably associating the endogenous PTPase gene sequence with apromoter via homologous recombination as described, for example, in U.S.Pat. No: 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; International Publication NO:WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication NO: WO94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad Sci.USA, 86:.8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature, 342:435-438(1989). This method involves the activation of a gene which is presentin the target cells, but which is not expressed in the cells, or isexpressed at a lower level than desired.

Polynucleotide constructs are made which contain a promoter andtargeting sequences, which are homologous to the 5′ non-coding sequenceof the endogenous PTPase gene, flanking the promoter. The targetingsequence will be sufficiently near the 5′ end of the PTPase gene so thepromoter will be operably linked to the endogenous sequence uponhomologous recombination. The promoter and the targeting sequences canbe amplified using PCR. Preferably, the amplified promoter containsdistinct restriction enzyme sites on the 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the3′ end of the first targeting sequence contains the same restrictionenzyme site as the 5′ end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end ofthe second targeting sequence contains the same restriction site as the3′ end of the amplified promoter.

The amplified promoter and the amplified targeting sequences aredigested with the appropriate restriction enzymes and subsequentlytreated with calf intestinal phosphatase. The digested promoter anddigested targeting sequences are added together in the. presence of T4DNA ligase. The resulting mixture is maintained under conditionsappropriate for ligation of the two fragments. The construct is sizefractionated on an agarose gel then purified by phenol extraction andethanol precipitation.

In this Example, the polynucleotide constructs are administered as nakedpolynucleotides via electroporation. However, the polynucleotideconstructs may also be administered with transfection-facilitatingagents, such as liposomes, viral sequences, viral particles,precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in theart.

Once the cells are transfected, homologous recombination will take placewhich results in the promoter being operably linked to the endogenousPTPase gene sequence. This results in the expression of PTPasepolypeptides in the cell. Expression may be detected by immunologicalstaining, or any other method known in the art.

Fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resultingtissue is placed in DMEM+10% fetal calf serum. Exponentially growing orearly stationary phase fibroblasts are trypsinized and rinsed from theplastic surface with nutrient medium. An aliquot of the cell suspensionis removed for counting, and the remaining cells are subjected tocentrifugation. The supernatant is aspirated and the pellet isresuspended in 5 ml of electroporation buffer (20 mM HEPES pH 7.3, 137mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 0.7 mM Na₂ HPO₄, 6 mM dextrose). The cells arerecentrifuged, the supernatant aspirated, and the cells resuspended inelectroporation buffer containing 1 mg/ml acetylated bovine serumalbumin. The final cell suspension contains approximately 3×10⁶cells/ml. Electroporation should be performed immnediately followingresuspension.

Plasmid DNA is prepared according to standard techniques. For example,to construct a plasmid for targeting to the PTPase locus, plasmid pUC18(MBI Fermentas, Amherst, N.Y.) is digested with HindIll. The CMVpromoter is amplified by PCR with an Xbal site on the 5′ end and a BamHIsite on the 3′ end. Two PTPase non-coding gene sequences are amplifiedvia PCR: one PTPase non-coding sequence (PTPase fragment 1) is amplifiedwith a HinduIII site at the 5′ end and an Xba site at the 3′ end; theother PTPase non-coding sequence (PTPase fragment 2) is amplified with aBamHI site at the 5′ end and a HinduIII site at the 3′end. The CMVpromoter and PTPase fragments are digested with the appropriate enzymes(CMV promoter—XbaI and BamHI; PTPase fragment 1—XbaI; PTPase fragment2—BamHI) and ligated together. The resulting ligation product isdigested with HindIII, and ligated with the HindHII-digested pUC18plasmid.

Plasmid DNA is added to a sterile cuvette with a 0.4 cm electrode gap(Bio-Rad). The final DNA concentration is generally at least 120 μg/ml.0.5 ml of the cell suspension (containing approximately 1.5.×10⁶ cells)is then added to the cuvette, and the cell suspension and DNA solutionsare gently mixed. Electroporation is performed with a Gene-Pulserapparatus (Bio-Rad). Capacitance and voltage are set at 960 μF and250-300 V, respectively. As voltage increases, cell survival decreases,but the percentage of surviving cells that stably incorporate theintroduced DNA into their genome increases dramatically. Given theseparameters, a pulse time of approximately 14-20 mSec should be observed.

Electroporated cells are maintained at room temperature forapproximately 5 min, and the contents of the cuvette are then gentlyremoved with a sterile transfer pipette. The cells are added directly to10 ml of prewarmed nutrient media (MEM with 15% calf serum) in a 10 cmdish and incubated at 37 degree C. The following day, the media isaspirated and replaced with 10 ml of fresh media and incubated for afurther 16-24 hours.

The engineered fibroblasts are then injected into the host, either aloneor after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3 microcarrierbeads. The fibroblasts now produce the protein product. The fibroblastscan then be introduced into a patient as described above.

Example 15 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy—In Vivo

Another aspect of the present invention is using in vivo gene therapymethods to treat disorders, diseases and conditions. The gene therapymethod relates to the introduction of naked nucleic acid (DNA, RNA, andantisense DNA or RNA) PTPase sequences into an animal to increase ordecrease the expression of the PTPase polypeptide. The PTPasepolynucleotide may be operatively linked to a promoter or any othergenetic elements necessary for the expression of the PTPase polypeptideby the target tissue. Such gene therapy and delivery techniques andmethods are known in the art, see, for example, WO90/11092, WO98/11779;U.S. Pat. Nos: 5,693,622, 5,705,151, 5,580,859; Tabata et al.,Cardiovasc. Res. 35(3):470-479 (1997), Chao J et al., Pharmacol. Res.,35(6):517-522 (1997), Wolff, Neuromuscul. Disord. 7(5):314-318 (1997),Schwartz et al., Gene Ther., 3(5):405-411 (1996), Tsurumi Y. et al.,Circulation, 94(12):3281-3290 (1996) (incorporated herein by reference).

The PTPase polynucleotide constructs may be delivered by any method thatdelivers injectable materials to the cells of an animal, such as,injection into the interstitial space of tissues (heart, muscle, skin,lung, liver, intestine and the like). The PITPase polynucleotideconstructs can be delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid oraqueous carrier.

The term “naked” polynucleotide, DNA or RNA, refers to sequences thatare free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote, orfacilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viralparticles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents andthe like. However, the PTPase polynucleotides may also be delivered inliposome formulations (such as those taught in Felgner et al., Ann. NYAcad. Sci., 772:126-139 (1995) and Abdallah et al., Biol Cell ,85(1):1-7 (1995)) which can be prepared by methods well known to thoseskilled in the art.

The PTPase polynucleotide vector constructs used in the gene therapymethod are preferably constructs that will not integrate into the hostgenome nor will they contain sequences that allow for replication. Anystrong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used fordriving the expression of DNA. Unlike other gene therapies techniques,one major advantage of introducing naked nucleic acid sequences intotarget cells is the transitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis inthe cells. Studies have shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can beintroduced into cells to provide production of the desired polypeptidefor periods of up to six months.

The polynucleotide constructs can be delivered to the interstitial spaceof tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain, lung,liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone,cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis,ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connectivetissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellularfluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organtissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagenfibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissueensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly thespace occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid ofthe lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscletissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may beconveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising thesecells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent,non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery andexpression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completelydifferentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skinfibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in theirability to take up and express polynucleotides.

For the naked PTPase polynucleotide injection, an effective dosageamount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 g/kg bodyweight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be fromabout 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill willappreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site ofinjection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequencecan readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and maydepend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route ofinjection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, otherparenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosolformulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues;throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked PTPasepolynucleotide constructs can be delivered to arteries duringangioplasty by the catheter used in the procedure.

The dose response effects of injected PITPase polynucleotide in musclein vivo is determined as follows. Suitable PTPase template DNA forproduction of mRNA coding for PTPase polypeptide is prepared inaccordance with a standard recombinant DNA methodology. The templateDNA, which may be either circular or linear, is either used as naked DNAor complexed with liposomes. The quadriceps muscles of mice are theninjected with various amounts of the template DNA.

Five to six week old female and male Balb/C mice are anesthetized byintraperitoneal injection with 0.3 ml of 2.5% Avertin. A 1.5 cm incisionis made on the anterior thigh, and the quadriceps muscle is directlyvisualized. The PTPase template DNA is injected in 0.1 ml of carrier ina 1 cc syringe through a 27 gauge needle over one nuinute, approximately0.5 cm from the distal insertion site of the muscle into the knee andabout 0.2 cm deep. A suture is placed over the injection site for futurelocalization, and the skin is closed with stainless steel clips.

After an appropriate incubation time (e.g., 7 days) muscle extracts areprepared by excising the entire quadriceps. Every fifth 15 umcross-section of the individual quadriceps muscles is histochemicallystained for PTPase protein expression. A time course for PTPase proteinexpression may be done in a similar fashion except that quadriceps fromdifferent mice are harvested at different times. Persistence of PTPaseDNA in muscle following injection may be determined by Southern blotanalysis after preparing total cellular DNA and HIRT supernatants frominjected and control mice. The results of the above experimentation inmice can be use to extrapolate proper dosages and other treatmentparameters in humans and other animals using PTPase naked DNA.

Example 16 Production of an Antibody

a) Hybridoma Technology

The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by a variety ofmethods. (See, Current Protocols, Chapter 2.) As one example of suchmethods, cells expressing PTPase polypeptide(s) are administered to ananimal to induce the production of sera containing polyclonalantibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation of PTPasepolypeptide(s) is prepared and purified to render it substantially freeof natural contaminants. Such a preparation is then introduced into ananimal in order to produce polyclonal antisera of greater specificactivity.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for PTPase polypeptide(s) are preparedusing hybridoma technology. (Kohler et al., Nature 256:495 (1975);Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976); Kohler et al., Eur. J.Immunol. 6:292 (1976); Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies andT-Cell Hybridomas, Elsevier, N.Y., pp. 563-681(1981)). In general, ananimal (preferably a mouse) is immunized with PTPase polypeptide(s) or,more preferably, with a secreted PTPase polypeptide-expressing cell.Such polypeptide-expressing cells are cultured in any suitable tissueculture medium, preferably in Earle's modified Eagle's mediumsupplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (inactivated at about 56° C.),and supplemented with about 10 g/l of nonessential amino acids, about1,000 U/ml of penicillin, and about 100 μg/ml of streptomycin.

The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with a suitablemyeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may be employed inaccordance with the present invention; however, it is preferable toemploy the parent myeloma cell line (SP2O), available from the ATCC.After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectively maintainedin HAT medium, and then cloned by limiting dilution as described byWands et al. (Gastroenterology 80:225-232 (1981)). The hybridoma cellsobtained through such a selection are then assayed to identify cloneswhich secrete antibodies capable of binding the PTPase polypeptide(s).

Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of binding to PTPasepolypeptide(s) can be produced in a two-step procedure usinganti-idiotypic antibodies. Such a method makes use of the fact thatantibodies are themselves antigens, and therefore, it is possible toobtain an antibody which binds to a second antibody. In accordance withthis method, protein specific antibodies are used to immunize an animal,preferably a mouse. The splenocytes of such an animal are then used toproduce hybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells are screened toidentify clones which produce an antibody whose ability to bind to thePTPase protein-specific antibody can be blocked by PTPasepolypeptide(s). Such antibodies comprise anti-idiotypic antibodies tothe PTPase protein-specific antibody and are used to immunize an animalto induce formation of further PTPase protein-specific antibodies.

For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, an antibody is “humanized”.Such antibodies can be produced using genetic constructs derived fromhybridoma cells producing the monoclonal antibodies described above.Methods for producing chimeric and humanized antibodies are known in theart and are discussed herein. (See, for review, Morrison, Science229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Cabilly et al.,U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP 171496; Morrison et al.,EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533; Robinson et al., WO 8702671;Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984); Neuberger et al., Nature314:268 (1985)).

b) Isolation Of Antibody Fragments Directed Against PTPasePolypeptide(s) From A Library Of scFvs

Naturally occurring V-genes isolated from human PBLs are constructedinto a library of antibody fragments which contain reactivities againstPTPase polypeptide(s) to which the donor may or may not have beenexposed (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,793 incorporated herein byreference in its entirety).

Rescue of the Library

A library of scFvs is constructed from the RNA of human PBLs asdescribed in PCT publication WO 92/01047. To rescue phage displayingantibody fragments, approximately 109 E. coli harboring the phagemid areused to inoculate 50 ml of 2×TY containing 1% glucose and 100 μg/ml ofampicillin (2×TY-AMP-GLU) and grown to an O.D. of 0.8 with shaking. Fiveml of this culture is used to innoculate 50 ml of 2×TY-AMP-GLU, 2×108 TUof delta gene 3 helper (M13 delta gene III, see PCT publication WO92/01047) are added and the culture incubated at 37° C. for 45 minuteswithout shaking and then at 37° C. for 45 minutes with shaking. Theculture is centrifuged at 4000 r.p.m. for 10 min. and the pelletresuspended in 2 liters of 2×TY containing 100 μg/ml ampicillin and 50μg/ml kanarnycin and grown overnight. Phage are prepared as described inPCT publication WO 92/01047.

M13 delta gene m is prepared as follows: M13 delta gene III helper phagedoes not encode gene III protein, hence the phage(mid) displayingantibody fragments have a greater avidity of binding to antigen.Infectious M13 delta gene III particles are made by growing the helperphage in cells harboring a pUC19 derivative supplying the wild type geneIII protein during phage morphogenesis. The culture is incubated for 1hour at 37° C. without shaking and then for a further hour at 37° C.with shaking. Cells are spun down (IEC-Centra 8,400 r.p.m. for 10 min),resuspended in 300 ml 2×TY broth containing 100 μg ampicillin/ml and 25μg kanamycin/ml (2×TY-AMP-KAN) and grown overnight, shaking at 37° C.Phage particles are purified and concentrated from the culture medium bytwo PEG-precipitations (Sambrook et al., 1990), resuspended in 2 ml PBSand passed through a 0.45 μm filter (Minisart NML; Sartorius) to give afinal concentration of approximately 1013 transducing units/ml(ampicillin-resistant clones).

Panning of the Library

Immunotubes (Nunc) are coated overnight in PBS with 4 ml of either 100μg/ml or 10 μg/ml of a polypeptide of the present invention. Tubes areblocked with 2% Marvel-PBS for 2 hours at 37° C. and then washed 3 timesin PBS. Approximately 1013 TU of phage is applied to the tube andincubated for 30 minutes at room temperature tumbling on an over andunder turntable and then left to stand for another 1.5 hours. Tubes arewashed 10 times with PBS 0.1% Tween-20 and 10 times with PBS. Phage areeluted by adding 1 ml of 100 mM triethylamine and rotating 15 minutes onan under and over turntable after which the solution is immediatelyneutralized with 0.5 ml of 1.0M Tris-HCl, pH 7.4. Phage are then used toinfect 10 ml of mid-log E. coli TG1 by incubating eluted phage withbacteria for 30 minutes at 37° C. The E. coli are then plated on TYEplates containing 1% glucose and 100 μg/ml ampicillin. The resultingbacterial library is then rescued with delta gene 3 helper phage asdescribed above to prepare phage for a subsequent round of selection.This process is then repeated for a total of 4 rounds of affinitypurification with tube-washing increased to 20 times with PBS, 0.1%Tween-20 and 20 times with PBS for rounds 3 and 4.

Characterization of Binders

Eluted phage from the 3rd and 4th rounds of selection are used to infectE. coli HB 2151 and soluble scFv is produced (Marks, et al., 1991) fromsingle colonies for assay. ELISAs are performed with microtitre platescoated with either 10 pg/ml of the polypeptide of the present inventionin 50 mM bicarbonate pH 9.6. Clones positive in ELISA are furthercharacterized by PCR fingerprinting (see, e.g., PCT publication WO92/01047) and then by sequencing. These ELISA positive clones may alsobe further characterized by techniques known in the art, such as, forexample, epitope mapping, binding affinity, receptor signaltransduction, ability to block or competitively inhibit antibody/antigenbinding, and competitive agonistic or antagonistic activity.

Example 18 Assay for Phosphatase Activity

In order to assay for Protein Tyrosine-Phosphatase (PTPase) activity,the assay(s) of Nishikawa et al. are utilized (Nishikawa, Y., et al., JBiol Chem., 274:34803-810 (1999)). Briefly, PTPase activity is measuredusing a PTPase kit from New England Biolabs, Inc. Myelin basic protein,a substrate for PTPase, is phosphorylated on multiple tyrosine residueswith Abl protein-tyrosine kinase in the presence of [γ-³²P]ATP and thendialyzed overnight to remove residual ATP. The assay is done in 25 μlreactions. Prior to adding the substrate, purified protein tyrosinephosphatase of the present invention (5 ng/reaction) is preincubatedwith compounds at 30° C. for 30 min. The reactions are then incubatedwith γ-³²P-labeled myelin basic protein (approx. 1.5 μg/reaction) at 30°C. for 20 min. The reactions are stopped by addition of 200 μl of 20%trichloroacetic acid. The samples are then centrifuged, and theradioactivity in the supernatants is counted using a scintillationcounter.

Example 19 Interaction of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases with otherProteins

The inventive purified Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases are research toolsfor the identification, characterization and purification of additionalinteracting proteins or receptor proteins, or other signal transductionpathway proteins. Briefly, a labeled Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase of thepresent invention is useful as a reagent for the purification of,molecules with which it interacts. In one embodiment of affinitypurification, protein tyrosine phosphatase is covalently coupled to achromatography column. Cell-free extract derived from putative targetcells, such as neural or liver cells, is passed over the column, andmolecules with appropriate affinity bind to the Protein TyrosinePhosphatase. The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-complex is recovered fromthe column, dissociated, and the recovered molecule subjected toN-terminal protein sequencing. This amino acid sequence is then used toidentify the captured molecule or to design degenerate oligonucleotideprobes for cloning the relevant gene from an appropriate cDNA library.

It will be clear that the invention may be practiced otherwise than asparticularly described in the foregoing description and examples.Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are within thescope of the appended claims.

The entire disclosure of each document cited (including patents, patentapplications, journal articles, abstracts, laboratory manuals, books, orother disclosures) in the Background of the Invention, DetailedDescription, and Examples is hereby incorporated herein by reference.Further, the hard copy of the sequence listing submitted herewith andthe corresponding computer readable form are both incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

Certain PTPase polynucleotides and polypeptides of the presentinvention, including antibodies, were disclosed in U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/176,306, filed Jan. 18, 2000, as well as inInternational application number PCT/US01/01563, filed Jan. 17, 2001 (inEnglish), the specifications and sequence listings of each of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

7 1 733 DNA Homo sapiens 1 gggatccgga gcccaaatct tctgacaaaa ctcacacatgcccaccgtgc ccagcacctg 60 aattcgaggg tgcaccgtca gtcttcctct tccccccaaaacccaaggac accctcatga 120 tctcccggac tcctgaggtc acatgcgtgg tggtggacgtaagccacgaa gaccctgagg 180 tcaagttcaa ctggtacgtg gacggcgtgg aggtgcataatgccaagaca aagccgcggg 240 aggagcagta caacagcacg taccgtgtgg tcagcgtcctcaccgtcctg caccaggact 300 ggctgaatgg caaggagtac aagtgcaagg tctccaacaaagccctccca acccccatcg 360 agaaaaccat ctccaaagcc aaagggcagc cccgagaaccacaggtgtac accctgcccc 420 catcccggga tgagctgacc aagaaccagg tcagcctgacctgcctggtc aaaggcttct 480 atccaagcga catcgccgtg gagtgggaga gcaatgggcagccggagaac aactacaaga 540 ccacgcctcc cgtgctggac tccgacggct ccttcttcctctacagcaag ctcaccgtgg 600 acaagagcag gtggcagcag gggaacgtct tctcatgctccgtgatgcat gaggctctgc 660 acaaccacta cacgcagaag agcctctccc tgtctccgggtaaatgagtg cgacggccgc 720 gactctagag gat 733 2 2228 DNA Homo sapiens 2ggcacgagta cacacccagc tctacccagg tcccgctcaa gaccctctgc cagcccactc 60aggggctctg cctttcccca gccctgggcc ccctcagcct ccccatcccc cactggcata 120tggtcctgcc ccttctacca gacccatggg cccccaggca gcccctctta ccattcgagg 180gccctcgtct gctggccagt ccacccctag tccccacctg gtgccttcac ctgccccatc 240tccagggcct ggtccggtac cccctcgccc cccagcagca gaaccacccc cttgcctgcg 300ccgaggcgcc gcagctgcag acctgctctc ctccagcccg gagagccagc atggcggcac 360tcagtctcct gggggtgggc agcccctgct gcagcccacc aaggtggatg cagctgaggg 420tcgtcggccg caggccctgc ggctgattga gcgggacccc tatgagcatc ctgagaggct 480gcggcagttg cagcaggagc tggaggcctt tcggggtcag ctgggggatg tgggagctct 540ggacactgtc tggcgagagc tgcaagatgc gcaggaacat gatgcccgag gccgttccat 600cgccattgcc cgctgctact cactgaagaa ccggcaccag gatgtcatgc cctatgacag 660taaccgtgtg gtgctgcgct caggcaagga tgactacatc aatgccagct gcgtggaggg 720gctctcccca tactgccccc cgctagtggc aacccaggcc ccactgcctg gcacagctgc 780tgacttctgg ctcatggtcc atgagcagaa agtgtcagtc attgtcatgc tggtttctga 840ggctgagatg gagaagcaaa aagtggcacg ctacttcccc accgagaggg gccagcccat 900ggtgcacggt gccctgagcc tggcattgag cagcgtccgc agcaccgaaa cccatgtgga 960gcgcgtgctg agcctgcagt tccgagacca gagcctcaag cgctctcttg tgcacctgca 1020cttccccact tggcctgagt taggcctgcc cgacagcccc agcaacttgc tgcgcttcat 1080ccaggaggtg cacgcacatt acctgcatca gcggccgctg cacacgccca tcattgtgca 1140ctgcagctct ggtgtgggcc gcacgggagc ctttgcactg ctctatgcag ctgtgcagga 1200ggtggaggct gggaacggaa tccctgagct gcctcagctg gtgcggcgca tgcggcagca 1260gagaaagcac atgctgcagg agaagctgca cctcaggttc tgctatgagg cagtggtgag 1320acacgtggag caggtcctgc agcgccatgg tgtgcctcct ccatgcaaac ccttggccag 1380tgcaagcatc agccagaagg tgaggaaggt tccgtggaag ctgctgggag agccacagcc 1440ttgggactcc ctctcctcac tcactctgtc ttctcagaac caccttcctc aggactccca 1500ggacctggtc ctcggtgggg atgtgcccat cagctccatc caggccacca ttgccaagct 1560cagcattcgg cctcctgggg ggttggagtc cccggttgcc agcttgccag gccctgcaga 1620gcccccaggc ctcccgccag ccagcctccc agagtctacc ccaatcccat cttcctcccc 1680accccccctt tcctccccac tacctgaggc tccccagcct aaggaggagc cgccagtgcc 1740tgaagccccc agctcggggc ccccctcctc ctccctggaa ttgctggcct ccttgacccc 1800agaggccttc tccctggaca gctccctgcg gggcaaacag cggatgagca agcataactt 1860tctgcaggcc cataacgggc aagggctgcg ggccacccgg ccctctgacg accccctcag 1920ccttctggat ccactctgga cactcaacaa gacctgaaca ggttttgcct acctggtcct 1980tacactacat catcatcatc tcatgcccac ctgcccacac ccagcagagc ttctcagtgg 2040gcacagtctc ttactcccat ttctgctgcc tttggccctg cctggcccag cctgcacccc 2100tgtggggtgg aaatgtactg caggctctgg gtcaggttct gctcctttat gggacccgac 2160atttttcagc tctttgctat tgaaataata aaccaccctg ttctgtgaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2220aaaaaaaa 2228 3 2872 DNA Homo sapiens 3 ggcacgagcc gccgccggcg ccgccaaggccaccctctac tgccgcgtct tcctgctcga 60 cgggaccgaa gtgagcgtgg acctgccgaaacatgccaaa ggccaggatt tgtttgatca 120 gattgtgtac cacttggacc ttgtggaaacagattacttt ggcctccagt tcctcgactc 180 tgcccaggtt gcgcactggc tggatcatgccaaacccata aaaaagcaga tgaaaattgg 240 acctgcttat gctttacact ttcgagttaaatactattct tcagaaccaa acaaccttcg 300 tgaggagttt acaaggtacc tgtttgttttacaactcagg catgacattc tttctggaaa 360 attgaaatgc ccttatgaaa cagctgtggaattagctgct ctctgtctac aagcggagct 420 tggggagtgc gagcttccag aacacacaccagagcttgtg tctgagtttc ggttcattcc 480 aaatcagaca gaagcaatgg aatttgatatcttccagaga tggaaagagt gcaggggaaa 540 gagccctgcc caggcggaac tctcctatctgaataaagcg aagtggctgg aaatgtatgg 600 ggtagacatg cacgttgtca ggggaagagatggctgtgaa tattctcttg gactgacccc 660 gacaggcata ttaatctttg aaggagctaacaaaataggc ttattctttt ggcctaaaat 720 taccaaaatg gattttaaaa agagcaaattgacactcgtg gtggtcgagg atgatgatca 780 gggacgtgag caagagcaca cgtttgtgttccggttagac agtgccagga cctgcaaaca 840 cctttggaag tgtgcagttg agcaccacgcattcttccga ctgcggacgc caggaaacag 900 caaatccaat agatccgact ttatcaggctgggctctcgc ttcagattca gtgggcggac 960 agaatatcaa gctacacatg gctccaggttacgaagaacc agcacctttg agaggaagcc 1020 tagtaaacgt tatccatccc ggagacattcaacgttcaaa gcaagcaacc cagtgatagc 1080 agcccagctc tgctctaaaa caaatccagaagtccataat taccagcctc aatatcatcc 1140 taatatccat cccagccagc cccggtggcatcctcactct ccaaatgtca ggccatcctt 1200 tcaggatgac aggtcgcatt ggaaagcatcggccagtgga gatgacagcc attttgatta 1260 tgtccacgac cagaaccaga agaacttaggagggatgcaa agtatgatgt atcgagataa 1320 actcatgact gcactttgag agactgaagcatctctcttc cattcacctt catagtttca 1380 ttgcattcca tgaaaagtgt cttggcctcagatggatgga tgtgtttgga cgagtgtctt 1440 taaggagtag tcctgaaagg tgtttttggtgtccatgtaa atatttgaag ataaaaccac 1500 tatagcttgt cataatttac tgttgactgcattctcatta aaatgaaggt aaaggctcag 1560 gaatcatatt gatgttctga ttttaaaattggagtcaaag tctatgttta tcattttact 1620 atgttcctga tgttctttgt tatttaattaatgggagcaa ataaaaccag aagagcttgg 1680 gaagattgct cagcatatat tcctgtcgtagaagttgaga ttgctagggt ccagtttccc 1740 tagtgtggcc tggacgagtc atttccccttcattgacctc attttcccca tctgaaaaga 1800 gagggttgga ctaagtgatc tccaaggtcctttccaactc taaaattctg caatttgtta 1860 acatttcatt ttgtttaggt tgaggacatacattcaaact aattttatca caaggaaaac 1920 tgcaataccc acttccttga cagagttactcctttcagaa gctaaataaa gtatataact 1980 tattagatgt tatatagata cagggggactttgaatttca catcttaaag cagttgagct 2040 actttgaatt taagcagtcg tactaatcttaaattgcata gcatttgttt tgatcgaatt 2100 tgctgctcaa gtatgggaat aatttttaatgtcttaatga ttggtgctgc taacttgcgt 2160 gatttcagaa gacataattg tgaatacacactgtcagaat tgggggattg gtttttaccc 2220 tagacttcac tcttaaaaag caacgtgcaatcaagatcat ttatggctca aatgaaagca 2280 tataaggttt tcttgaagtt gtgccaaagcattctgtaga gtaggatgag atggttgttg 2340 ccctagtctg ttggtagaac cagaaatcaatatgttgtct tttaggttaa agcttgtacc 2400 aaaatattta tttcccccat ttcaagccctgagtcaaaca tttttttctc ttaataatag 2460 acctgaaatg ttttattagt atttctgtgaaatcagttga ttcttgtgcc atttttgtat 2520 atgtaattgt aattttgccc atgttaggccctctaaaaaa tgtttgacat cctttgagat 2580 attttattac taaaatctga tcttttttggctactgcaaa aatctattca gcaagaaggt 2640 atcagctgca taccttgcac agtggagctgactacctata aactctccct aaggcatttg 2700 tttacaggtg tattccattt tagcagacgttctgatgctc agtgtatgtg ctgcatacaa 2760 ataaatgtgt tctgaatctt ttcatcttattgatagcatt tttacaaatg tgtttccaag 2820 gaataaagat tattcttgct ttttaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa 2872 4 603 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Gly Pro GlnAla Ala Pro Leu Thr Ile Arg Gly Pro Ser Ser Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Gln SerThr Pro Ser Pro His Leu Val Pro Ser Pro Ala Pro Ser 20 25 30 Pro Gly ProGly Pro Val Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Ala Ala Glu Pro Pro 35 40 45 Pro Cys LeuArg Arg Gly Ala Ala Ala Ala Asp Leu Leu Ser Ser Ser 50 55 60 Pro Glu SerGln His Gly Gly Thr Gln Ser Pro Gly Gly Gly Gln Pro 65 70 75 80 Leu LeuGln Pro Thr Lys Val Asp Ala Ala Glu Gly Arg Arg Pro Gln 85 90 95 Ala LeuArg Leu Ile Glu Arg Asp Pro Tyr Glu His Pro Glu Arg Leu 100 105 110 ArgGln Leu Gln Gln Glu Leu Glu Ala Phe Arg Gly Gln Leu Gly Asp 115 120 125Val Gly Ala Leu Asp Thr Val Trp Arg Glu Leu Gln Asp Ala Gln Glu 130 135140 His Asp Ala Arg Gly Arg Ser Ile Ala Ile Ala Arg Cys Tyr Ser Leu 145150 155 160 Lys Asn Arg His Gln Asp Val Met Pro Tyr Asp Ser Asn Arg ValVal 165 170 175 Leu Arg Ser Gly Lys Asp Asp Tyr Ile Asn Ala Ser Cys ValGlu Gly 180 185 190 Leu Ser Pro Tyr Cys Pro Pro Leu Val Ala Thr Gln AlaPro Leu Pro 195 200 205 Gly Thr Ala Ala Asp Phe Trp Leu Met Val His GluGln Lys Val Ser 210 215 220 Val Ile Val Met Leu Val Ser Glu Ala Glu MetGlu Lys Gln Lys Val 225 230 235 240 Ala Arg Tyr Phe Pro Thr Glu Arg GlyGln Pro Met Val His Gly Ala 245 250 255 Leu Ser Leu Ala Leu Ser Ser ValArg Ser Thr Glu Thr His Val Glu 260 265 270 Arg Val Leu Ser Leu Gln PheArg Asp Gln Ser Leu Lys Arg Ser Leu 275 280 285 Val His Leu His Phe ProThr Trp Pro Glu Leu Gly Leu Pro Asp Ser 290 295 300 Pro Ser Asn Leu LeuArg Phe Ile Gln Glu Val His Ala His Tyr Leu 305 310 315 320 His Gln ArgPro Leu His Thr Pro Ile Ile Val His Cys Ser Ser Gly 325 330 335 Val GlyArg Thr Gly Ala Phe Ala Leu Leu Tyr Ala Ala Val Gln Glu 340 345 350 ValGlu Ala Gly Asn Gly Ile Pro Glu Leu Pro Gln Leu Val Arg Arg 355 360 365Met Arg Gln Gln Arg Lys His Met Leu Gln Glu Lys Leu His Leu Arg 370 375380 Phe Cys Tyr Glu Ala Val Val Arg His Val Glu Gln Val Leu Gln Arg 385390 395 400 His Gly Val Pro Pro Pro Cys Lys Pro Leu Ala Ser Ala Ser IleSer 405 410 415 Gln Lys Val Arg Lys Val Pro Trp Lys Leu Leu Gly Glu ProGln Pro 420 425 430 Trp Asp Ser Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Leu Ser Ser Gln AsnHis Leu Pro 435 440 445 Gln Asp Ser Gln Asp Leu Val Leu Gly Gly Asp ValPro Ile Ser Ser 450 455 460 Ile Gln Ala Thr Ile Ala Lys Leu Ser Ile ArgPro Pro Gly Gly Leu 465 470 475 480 Glu Ser Pro Val Ala Ser Leu Pro GlyPro Ala Glu Pro Pro Gly Leu 485 490 495 Pro Pro Ala Ser Leu Pro Glu SerThr Pro Ile Pro Ser Ser Ser Pro 500 505 510 Pro Pro Leu Ser Ser Pro LeuPro Glu Ala Pro Gln Pro Lys Glu Glu 515 520 525 Pro Pro Val Pro Glu AlaPro Ser Ser Gly Pro Pro Ser Ser Ser Leu 530 535 540 Glu Leu Leu Ala SerLeu Thr Pro Glu Ala Phe Ser Leu Asp Ser Ser 545 550 555 560 Leu Arg GlyLys Gln Arg Met Ser Lys His Asn Phe Leu Gln Ala His 565 570 575 Asn GlyGln Gly Leu Arg Ala Thr Arg Pro Ser Asp Asp Pro Leu Ser 580 585 590 LeuLeu Asp Pro Leu Trp Thr Leu Asn Lys Thr 595 600 5 369 PRT Homo sapiens 5Met Lys Ile Gly Pro Ala Tyr Ala Leu His Phe Arg Val Lys Tyr Tyr 1 5 1015 Ser Ser Glu Pro Asn Asn Leu Arg Glu Glu Phe Thr Arg Tyr Leu Phe 20 2530 Val Leu Gln Leu Arg His Asp Ile Leu Ser Gly Lys Leu Lys Cys Pro 35 4045 Tyr Glu Thr Ala Val Glu Leu Ala Ala Leu Cys Leu Gln Ala Glu Leu 50 5560 Gly Glu Cys Glu Leu Pro Glu His Thr Pro Glu Leu Val Ser Glu Phe 65 7075 80 Arg Phe Ile Pro Asn Gln Thr Glu Ala Met Glu Phe Asp Ile Phe Gln 8590 95 Arg Trp Lys Glu Cys Arg Gly Lys Ser Pro Ala Gln Ala Glu Leu Ser100 105 110 Tyr Leu Asn Lys Ala Lys Trp Leu Glu Met Tyr Gly Val Asp MetHis 115 120 125 Val Val Arg Gly Arg Asp Gly Cys Glu Tyr Ser Leu Gly LeuThr Pro 130 135 140 Thr Gly Ile Leu Ile Phe Glu Gly Ala Asn Lys Ile GlyLeu Phe Phe 145 150 155 160 Trp Pro Lys Ile Thr Lys Met Asp Phe Lys LysSer Lys Leu Thr Leu 165 170 175 Val Val Val Glu Asp Asp Asp Gln Gly ArgGlu Gln Glu His Thr Phe 180 185 190 Val Phe Arg Leu Asp Ser Ala Arg ThrCys Lys His Leu Trp Lys Cys 195 200 205 Ala Val Glu His His Ala Phe PheArg Leu Arg Thr Pro Gly Asn Ser 210 215 220 Lys Ser Asn Arg Ser Asp PheIle Arg Leu Gly Ser Arg Phe Arg Phe 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Arg Thr GluTyr Gln Ala Thr His Gly Ser Arg Leu Arg Arg 245 250 255 Thr Ser Thr PheGlu Arg Lys Pro Ser Lys Arg Tyr Pro Ser Arg Arg 260 265 270 His Ser ThrPhe Lys Ala Ser Asn Pro Val Ile Ala Ala Gln Leu Cys 275 280 285 Ser LysThr Asn Pro Glu Val His Asn Tyr Gln Pro Gln Tyr His Pro 290 295 300 AsnIle His Pro Ser Gln Pro Arg Trp His Pro His Ser Pro Asn Val 305 310 315320 Arg Pro Ser Phe Gln Asp Asp Arg Ser His Trp Lys Ala Ser Ala Ser 325330 335 Gly Asp Asp Ser His Phe Asp Tyr Val His Asp Gln Asn Gln Lys Asn340 345 350 Leu Gly Gly Met Gln Ser Met Met Tyr Arg Asp Lys Leu Met ThrAla 355 360 365 Leu 6 13 PRT Homo sapiens 6 Val His Cys Ser Ser Gly ValGly Arg Thr Gly Ala Phe 1 5 10 7 34 PRT Homo sapiens 7 Ile Ser Gln LysVal Arg Lys Val Pro Trp Lys Leu Leu Gly Glu Pro 1 5 10 15 Gln Pro TrpAsp Ser Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Leu Ser Ser Gln Asn His 20 25 30 Leu Pro

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising apolynucleotidc selected from the group consisting of: (a) apolynucleotde encoding amino acid residues 1 to 369 of SEQ ID NO:5; and(b) a polynucleotide comprising nucleotides 1 to 2872 of SEQ D NO:3. 2.The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein saidpolynucleotide is (a).
 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1,wherein said polynucleotide is (b).
 4. The isolated nucleic acidmolecule of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide further comprises aheterologous polynucleotide.
 5. The isolated nucleic acid molecule ofclaim 4 wherein said heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologouspolypeptide.
 6. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid moleculeof claim
 1. 7. The vector of claim 1 wherein the nucleic acid moleculeis operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequence thatcontrols gene expression.
 8. A recombinant host cell comprisig theisolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 9. The recombinant host cellof claim 8 wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operably associated witha heterologous regulatory sequence that controls gene expression.
 10. Amethod for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a) culturing therecombinant host cell of claim 8 under conditions suitable to producethe polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide; and (b) recovering thepolypeptide fom the cell culture.
 11. An isolated nucleic acid moleculecomprising a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of: (a) apolynucleotide encoding the amino acid sequence of the full-lengthpolypeptide encoded by the cDNA clone contained in plasmid HTEBS63 inATCC Deposit No. PTA1200; and (b) a polynucleotide comprising the cDNAclone contained in plasmid HTEBS63 in ATCC Deposit No. PTA1200.
 12. Theisolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 11, wherein said polynucleotideis (a).
 13. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 11, wherein saidpolynucleotide is (b).
 14. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim11 wherein the polynucleotide further comprises a heterologouspolynucleotide.
 15. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 14wherein said heterologous polynucleotide encodes a heterologouspolypeptide.
 16. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid moleculeof claim
 11. 17. The vector of claim 16 wherein the nucleic acidmolecule is operably associated with a heterologous regulatory sequencethat controls gene expresson.
 18. A recombinant host cell comprising theisolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 11. 19. The recombinant hostcell of claim 18 wherein the nucleic acid molecule is operablyassociated with a heterologous regulatory sequence that controls geneexpression.
 20. A method for producing a polypeptide, comprising: (a)cultuting the recombinant host cell of claim 18 under conditionssuitable to produce the polypeptide encoded by said polynucleotide; and(b) recovering the polypeptide from the cell culture.